You’re sitting in your dorm room, scrolling through LinkedIn, and everyone seems to have it figured out.

She’s heading to Google, he’s got a finance internship in New York, and your group chat is buzzing about applications and “dream roles.”

But if you feel like you’re the only one who hasn’t achieved career clarity, breathe. You’re not behind.

Career clarity isn’t a single moment of “aha!” that hits you during your 8am lecture. It’s a journey, a series of small experiments, conversations, and risks that lead you closer to a path that feels like yours. It’s normal to feel unsure, and that feeling doesn’t mean you’re failing - it means you’re learning. 

Why It Feels So Hard

We live in a world that tells us to find our passion, monetize it, and share it on social media by age 22. That pressure to find career clarity immediately can be paralyzing. It’s easy to believe you need to “pick the right lane” forever, but the truth is your first job rarely defines your forever.

Instead of waiting to feel perfectly aligned, understand that clarity often comes through movement, not meditation. You learn by trying internships, asking professionals questions, shadowing, and taking on small projects that stretch you.

Watch this Ted talk to understand why you need to fail in order to succeed. Or read this blog if Ted talks aren’t your thing.

The Power of Micro-Experiments

One of the fastest ways to build career clarity is by micro-experimenting. You don’t need a 10-year plan; you need a 10-day experiment. Volunteer for a campus role, shadow a friend at their internship, take on a freelance project, or join a hackathon or case competition to get a taste of different environments.

These low-stakes experiments allow you to feel the pace, people, and problems in different industries. 

Surround Yourself With Expanders

Your environment can shape your confidence in your journey toward career clarity. Seek out expanders: people who are a few steps ahead of you and are willing to share their stories honestly. They’re often alumni, senior peers, or professionals who remember what it felt like to be in your shoes.

Reach out on LinkedIn or at networking events and ask about the first roles they took and how those experiences shaped their career. You’ll discover that even the people you admire were once unsure.

Self-Reflection Brings Clarity

While action is critical, reflection turns those actions into insight. After each experience, ask yourself: What energized me? What drained me? What felt meaningful? These questions will guide you toward career clarity far more than generic assessments or parental expectations.

Keep a simple Google Doc or a journal where you capture your reflections. Over time, patterns will emerge, and you’ll see what type of environments and work align with your strengths and values. 

Progress Over Perfection

The Sky Society ethos is rooted in progress, not perfection. Your goal is not to have a flawless five-year plan, but to move closer to career clarity through real-world exploration, community engagement, and self-reflection.

If you take one step each month (whether it’s a conversation, a side project, or a course) you’ll look back in a year and see how far you’ve come.

Career clarity is not a race, and it certainly isn’t a competition with your peers. It’s about discovering what you need to thrive, not what looks impressive on paper. Keep going, and stay open to pivots. 

Here’s how you can start exploring what feels right for you:

Write Down What Energizes You

Think about your classes, projects, and activities that genuinely excite you. Do you love working on presentations, mentoring others, coding, or planning events? Write these down.

You’ll begin to see patterns in what lights you up, and these patterns will guide you as you navigate what feels aligned with your future.

Notice What Drains You

It’s just as important to know what you don’t enjoy. Pay attention to the assignments you avoid and the activities that leave you feeling empty.

These signals will help you understand where your energy doesn’t flow naturally, allowing you to focus on areas where you thrive.

Take a Career Assessment

If you’re feeling lost, consider taking a free assessment on Truity or 16Personalities. While these tools aren’t meant to define you, they can give you new ideas for careers that align with your strengths and interests.

Let these results guide your research into different roles and industries without pressuring yourself to commit immediately.

Reach Out to Professionals

Talking to people who are a few steps ahead can provide real insight into different career paths. Use LinkedIn or alumni networks to reach out for a quick coffee chat or virtual meeting.

Ask them what they do daily, what they love about their work, and what challenges they face. You’ll learn what the job feels like, rather than relying on vague job descriptions.

This guide can help you craft your outreach message without overthinking it.

Try Internships and Small Experiments

Don’t wait to have a perfect plan before testing out a field. Apply for internships, volunteer with a student club, or help a local business with social media or events.

These experiences give you a taste of different environments, helping you gather clues about what feels right and what doesn’t. It’s one of the fastest ways to gain real-world experience while you’re still exploring.

Read this blog to understand why trying new things matter in order to understand your interests. 

Reflect Along the Way

As you try new things, pause to reflect. What tasks did you enjoy? What felt draining? What surprised you? Reflection turns experiences into valuable insight as you move forward.

Keeping a simple Google Doc or journal to track your thoughts will help you notice patterns over time, making your path clearer even when it feels messy.

Conclusion

The truth is, most people don’t “figure it all out” in college. They try things, make choices that don’t quite fit, and slowly learn what does. 

So if you’re still unsure, that’s okay. You’re not lost,  you’re exploring. Every small step, every conversation, every reflection is part of the process. Let go of the idea that you need a five-year plan.

Right now, your job is to learn more about yourself:  what drives you, what drains you, and what feels worth doing.

Your path will unfold as you stay curious and keep moving forward. You’re not behind; you’re just getting started.

✍️ Written by Muskan Gupta