A lot of people pick careers based on interest, pressure, or what looks good on paper.

Then a few years in, they realize… they’re not that good at it. Or they don’t enjoy the way the work feels day to day.

Liking something isn’t the same as being good at it. And being “good on paper” doesn’t mean the job will suit you.

Where are you at right now? I don’t know what I’m good at I have a few options but no clear fit I’ve tried things and they didn’t stick I just want to pick something and move forward

If that sounds familiar, this will help: How to Find a Career You’re Good At →​

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🧠 Tyler’s Take: The problem with "just try things"

Inspired by last week's Human of GradSimple, Hassan S.

I tell people to “just try things” all the time, but I don’t mean do it blindly.

It’s one of those pieces of advice that takes the pressure off. You don’t need to have your life figured out. You just need to start somewhere and learn as you go.

And to be fair, it does work. Early on, almost anything is useful. You pick up skills, you see how different environments feel, and you start to understand what you like and what you don’t.

The problem is, no one really tells you how that advice is supposed to evolve as you gain more experience.

I spoke to Hassan recently, who’s been in that loop for a while. He made thoughtful decisions at each step. Switched majors when something didn’t feel right. Took on roles across teaching, sales, and tutoring. Built strengths around working with people, explaining ideas, and staying composed in different situations.

None of those choices were random. And I don't think any of them were a waste.

But when you zoom out, it’s hard to tell what all of it adds up to.

Each step opened a new direction instead of narrowing things down. So every new decision feels just as open-ended as the last one. You’re still choosing between multiple paths, unsure which one is worth committing to, and hoping the next move will somehow make things clearer.

At that point, blindly trying more things doesn’t solve the problem. It just extends it.

What’s missing isn’t effort or even experience. It’s being more intentional about what you try.

Trying something works best when it answers a specific question. Does this type of work suit me? Can I see myself doing this daily? Do I want what people a few years ahead of me have? When you go in with that kind of focus, each step starts narrowing the path instead of keeping everything open.

And once you get those signals, you have to use them.

Double down on what showed promise. Cut the options that clearly didn’t fit. Look for patterns across what you’ve already tried instead of treating every new decision like a blank slate.

And before you commit, please, ask yourself a few simple questions that will save you a lifetime of regret.

What does this path look like a few years in? Are people getting hired into this, or is it getting more competitive? What do the people who succeed here tend to have in common? Do I want their day-to-day, not just the idea of it?

It’s useful to know what you like. It’s just not enough on its own.

At the end of the day, this is still a career. Your time, your energy, and in many cases your money are going into it. So your decisions need to hold up not just personally, but in the real world too.

That’s when trying things starts to work in your favor again.

— Tyler

P.S. Is someone in your life stuck in this loop? Send this to them!

P.S.S If you want help on the real-world part, you may be a good fit for GradSimple Insiders.

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📊 This Week In Headlines

Every week, we grab one scary, confusing, or wildly misinterpreted job market headline and give it a reality check.

“AI is taking jobs.” That’s the narrative people are running with right now. So we went and looked at the latest data on how companies are really using it.

To our surprise, there’s a specific number in there that doesn’t match the narrative at all. Not slightly off, btw. Completely off.

And it has real implications for how hard it is to break into certain fields right now, especially the ones most grads are aiming for.

This is where I think people are getting tripped up. They’re asking these big, long-term existential questions about AI… and using that to make short to medium-term career decisions. All without looking at what’s happening in the market today.

That gap is where people end up committing to something, only to realize later that the situation wasn’t what they thought it was.

We broke down what’s going on, where it matters most, and how to think about it if you’re choosing a path right now.

​👉🏽 See what’s worth paying attention to →​

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👀 Ricky Brain

TikTok and YouTube gifts from yours truly, Ricky the GOAT (raccoon)! All you gotta do is click the video. You're welcome.

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If you've been stuck in your head about what to do with your career... Being a Human of GradSimple is a great way to get a second opinion from someone (*ahem* me) who understands how careers play out. ​Click here to share your story.​

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