Before we delve into solutions, let’s take a deeper look at your current situation. The uncertainty surrounding your creative career path is not unfounded and often arises because of various factors.

Indecision and choice paralysis
Faced with so many career possibilities, it’s only natural that you’d be indecisive about having to pick one path. What if you invest time into pursuing something and it doesn’t pay off? What if you have so many different interests that you can’t narrow them down – or, what if you’re not passionate enough about anything to make a career out of it?

All these “what ifs” stem from a deep-rooted anxiety around making a ‘wrong’ decision. But this perfectionism and self-pressure can lead to choice paralysis and procrastination.

Self-doubt and comparison
On top of that, insecurity and self-doubt might be convincing you that there’s no point in trying anyway – especially because it seems that so many talented creatives are out there, all vying for similar roles. By comparing yourself to others on social media and downplaying your own achievements, you could be holding yourself back from moving forward and reaching your full potential.

Global uncertainty
It’s not just you, though. The unpredictable nature of the modern world also makes it much harder to make life decisions – so much so that it’s even taken on a fancy acronym: VUCA. Coined by Warren Bennis and Burt Nanus, the framework refers to the “volatility”, “uncertainty”, “complexity” and “ambiguity” that we’ve been experiencing over the past few decades.

Changes in the job market
Off the back of a global pandemic and the advent of artificial intelligence, industries and jobs have also been rapidly evolving in recent years. So if you’re pondering over where you’ll fit in, which creative disciplines to pursue and how to future-proof your career, it might be contributing to your inability to decide on what to do.

Well… yes and no.

It’s completely valid to not have it all figured out right now, or indeed at any point in your life. Take it from Nils Westerlund, former design director at Doberman agency: having gone from making music to doing product design, his advice is to be “rest assured, that whatever you have planned will change, and that’s alright because it will be all the more exciting for it.” Plus, you don’t want to end up feverishly applying for any opportunity you see just for the sake of it, as you might end up burning out while scattering your efforts in a million different directions.

At the same time, you can’t stay stuck forever. Given how much our brains crave certainty, an indeterminate state of indecision can be really psychologically draining, especially when it seems like there’s no solution in sight. Staying stagnant for too long might also mean missing out on opportunities you’d never expected, from places you would have never thought to look.

What should you do, then? We have four potential starting points that can apply to whichever stage you’re at in your journey, so meet yourself where you currently are and go for what feels most helpful for your own circumstances.

The value of self-reflection
While it can seem counterintuitive to start figuring out your career by stopping to contemplate it, self-reflection is a powerful way of gaining clarity. After all, if you haven’t had time to cultivate an intention, how would you know where to focus your attention?

Through reflecting on your strengths, interests, experiences and aspirations, you’ll become more aware of what you find meaning in and which directions you’re being pulled towards.

How to get to know yourself
So take some time to consider what you’re good at, what excites you, where you’ve thrived in the past and what you’re curious to explore. From writing in a journal to creating a vision board, there are plenty of ways for you to go about self-reflecting, and below is just one that you could try out.

The importance of learning
As the saying goes, knowledge is power. You may not know exactly what you want to do, but it can certainly help to explore what’s out there – especially because there are always new developments in the creative careers landscape.

Whether it’s a discipline you want to know more about or a skill you’ve been keen to pick up, educating yourself can help you hone your craft and expand your understanding of the industry. In fact, you might even discover jobs you hadn’t realised existed before.

Ways to build up your knowledge
To start exploring potential pathways, try taking a look at the Job Roles page on Creative Lives in Progress or the Job Profiles section of Prospects. These will help you learn about the skills, responsibilities, working culture and salaries for roles across the creative industries.

You could also attend seminars, conferences and workshops to gain a deeper understanding about certain topics or disciplines, as well as enrol in online courses on platforms such as Coursera, Skillshare and Udemy, to develop your skills in certain areas.

The need for networking
As many of our Creative Lives interviewees have shared, connections are crucial in the creative industry. While part of networking is about getting your name out there, it’s also about knowledge-sharing and building relationships within the community. This is especially useful when you don’t really know what you want to do. People know people, so even if they’re not in a sector you’re interested in, they might know a great person for you to talk to.

How to create new connections
If you’re looking to connect with other entry-level creatives, try attending events or participating in online communities – many of which you can find on websites like Eventbrite and Meetup.

If you’re hoping to gain insights from people within the industry, don’t be afraid to reach out directly to more senior creatives for informational interviews and mentorship opportunities. With the wisdom they’ve acquired from their experiences, they’ll be able to share how they navigated their careers and advise you about yours. Just make sure you introduce yourself, have a clear objective, and come prepared with questions!

The power of being proactive
We can almost hear you saying, “but the whole point is that I don’t know what I want to do!” Yet, not being 100% certain doesn’t have to hold you back from exploring opportunities that interest or excite you. It’s not so much about following a passion as it is about following your curiosity – because you never know what you might learn or who you might meet through your experiences.

Not to mention, opportunities emerge from other opportunities. Just by taking action, you’ll be gaining momentum and opening new doors, alongside building skills and experiences through real-world applications.

When to start pursuing opportunities
This step works especially well once you’ve had the time to reflect on your interests, done your research and spoken to others in the industry, because all of these elements help to cultivate a more intentional approach to applying for opportunities.

Whichever technique you choose to start with, the most important thing is to believe in yourself – and the first step to cultivating that confidence is to stop saying that you don’t know what you want to do. There’s nothing wrong with admitting it, but repeatedly emphasising your uncertainty can leave you feeling helpless and make it more challenging for others to help you as well.

So instead of shying away the next time someone asks what you want to do, talk about all the things you’re thinking of doing, or are interested to learn about. Be open to trying new things, take small steps, embrace this stage of exploration – and, no matter what you do, remember that your journey doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s.