At 17, we're asked to pick a stream. At 18, a course. By 21, we’re expected to be on a solid, unwavering career path. But here’s the truth no one tells us: your 20s are not meant for having it all figured out—they’re for figuring things out. We’ve grown up being told to “choose wisely” because our future depends on it. The problem is, this advice assumes we’ll get it right the first time. It assumes that your first degree will perfectly align with your long-term passion, that your first job will be fulfilling, and that you’ll climb the same ladder for the next 30 years.
But life—and careers—don’t work like that anymore.
The job market today is fluid. Roles are evolving, industries are merging, and entirely new fields are emerging every few years. What mattered five years ago may be irrelevant today. So why do we still pressure young adults to lock themselves into a single path at 18?
Career pivots aren’t just common now—they’re necessary. Many people discover new interests after working for a few years. Others burn out and realise they were chasing someone else’s dream. Some find the courage to return to school, start a business, enter the development sector, or learn a new skill at 25. None of this makes them failures. It makes them human. Yet we rarely speak of these transitions. Social media amplifies the illusion that everyone else is “doing great”—promotions, offers, grad school admits—while you’re still unsure. But behind every polished LinkedIn update is someone questioning their next step.
What we need is a cultural shift. One that doesn’t mock indecision, but embraces career exploration as a strength. The courage to start over isn’t a flaw—it’s resilience. No one questions someone switching relationships to find the right partner, so why shame someone for changing careers to find the right fit? The truth is, very few people do one thing all their lives anymore. People move from law to policy, from engineering to product design, from academia to entrepreneurship. And most of them are still figuring it out.
So if you’re in your 20s and you feel confused, burnt out, or even bored, it’s okay. Pivot. Experiment. Ask questions. Intern in a new field. Take a certificate course. Talk to professionals outside your domain. There’s no one perfect path. There’s only the one that makes sense for you, right now.
Let’s normalize career pivots. Let’s talk about them. Let’s stop pretending anyone has it all figured out by 25.
But life—and careers—don’t work like that anymore.
The job market today is fluid. Roles are evolving, industries are merging, and entirely new fields are emerging every few years. What mattered five years ago may be irrelevant today. So why do we still pressure young adults to lock themselves into a single path at 18?
Career pivots aren’t just common now—they’re necessary. Many people discover new interests after working for a few years. Others burn out and realise they were chasing someone else’s dream. Some find the courage to return to school, start a business, enter the development sector, or learn a new skill at 25. None of this makes them failures. It makes them human. Yet we rarely speak of these transitions. Social media amplifies the illusion that everyone else is “doing great”—promotions, offers, grad school admits—while you’re still unsure. But behind every polished LinkedIn update is someone questioning their next step.
What we need is a cultural shift. One that doesn’t mock indecision, but embraces career exploration as a strength. The courage to start over isn’t a flaw—it’s resilience. No one questions someone switching relationships to find the right partner, so why shame someone for changing careers to find the right fit? The truth is, very few people do one thing all their lives anymore. People move from law to policy, from engineering to product design, from academia to entrepreneurship. And most of them are still figuring it out.
So if you’re in your 20s and you feel confused, burnt out, or even bored, it’s okay. Pivot. Experiment. Ask questions. Intern in a new field. Take a certificate course. Talk to professionals outside your domain. There’s no one perfect path. There’s only the one that makes sense for you, right now.
Let’s normalize career pivots. Let’s talk about them. Let’s stop pretending anyone has it all figured out by 25.
