My name’s Andreas Xanthis, and for a long time, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I mean, I could tell you my go-to Subway order without hesitation (chicken teriyaki, extra jalapeños, toasted obviously), but ask me about a career and I’d suddenly forget how to speak. 

I remember the exact moment it hit me — the last day of Year 12, walking out of the exam hall with my school shirt scribbled over and the rest of my life ahead of me. For the first time in years, I didn’t have a clear next step. There was no school uniform anymore…which was a win, but suddenly, there was also no timetable, no assignments, no teacher telling me what came next. It was all freedom and absolutely no idea what to do with it. 

At the time, I thought I was the only one feeling this way. Everyone else seemed to have a 10-year plan while I was still googling “What is a tax file number?” But the truth is, most people are winging it- especially at the beginning. And that’s actually okay.

What I’ve learned since then is this: you don’t have to figure it all out at once. You just have to take the next step. Here’s what helped me and what might help you too:

Start with yourself (this is your future after all)

Before you go diving into university course guides or job boards, pause. Seriously. 

Take a moment and think about who you are. Not who your parents want you to be, or what your friends are doing, or what sounds impressive at a family BBQ — just you.

Ask yourself the simple stuff: 

• What do I actually enjoy?

• What kind of tasks make me lose track of time — helping people, solving problems, being creative, leading others? 

• What matters most to me? Is it stability, freedom, purpose, money? (be honest!!)

These questions aren’t always easy to answer, but they’re way more helpful and far less overwhelming than “What job should I do?”.

For me, I realised I was the kind of person who tends to overthink everything… in a good way. I liked unpacking big ideas, challenging the way things are and figuring out why people act the way they do. That curiosity slowly led me to law and behavioural science- two areas I probably would’ve ignored if I hadn’t taken the time to reflect. The truth is your career should fit you- not the other way around!

Look at what you’ve already got (it’s definitely more than you think)

We tend to think skills only come from school or fancy internships, but honestly, half the useful stuff I’ve learned came from part-time jobs, group chats, and figuring out how to fix my Wi-Fi at 2 am. 

If you’ve worked in retail or hospitality, you’ve already got patience, communication skills, and crisis management (a.k.a. dealing with angry customers who swear their coupon isn’t expired). Have you volunteered? That’s initiative. Built something online or managed a side hustle? That’s problem-solving and time management.

You don’t need a LinkedIn profile full of shiny job titles to prove you’re capable — you just need to realise the value of what you’ve already been doing.

DON’T obsess over job titles 

When I first started thinking about careers, I had this narrow list in my head: doctor, engineer, maybe accountant if I was feeling wild. Those felt like the “safe” options — the ones that sounded good when your uncle asked what you’re doing with your life. But the more I explored, the more I realised you don’t need to pick a title — you need to pick a direction.

If you're passionate about mental health, for example, you could go into psychology, social work, policy, education, or even tech. Care about the environment? There’s law, science, journalism, design — and that’s just scratching the surface. Instead of locking yourself into one job title, follow the cause, the problem you want to help solve. The roles will reveal themselves as you go.

Try things early and often 

The best way to figure out what you like? Actually, do stuff. Not everything needs to be a five-year plan or a paid gig. Volunteer, intern, job shadow, sign up for a random short course — just get your hands dirty. Half the time you’ll learn more from what you don’t enjoy than what you do. I’ve done things I thought I’d love and ended up bored out of my mind. I’ve also stumbled into roles I didn’t expect to like and found myself surprisingly into them.

These little experiences stack up. They help you learn what energises you, what drains you, and what kind of environment you actually thrive in. Plus, trying things shows initiative — and makes you way more interesting than someone who just waited around for the “perfect” job to appear.

Balance passion with practicality 

Look, chasing your passion is great — but so is being able to pay rent. The trick is finding the sweet spot between what lights you up and what actually works in the real world. I had dreams of doing something meaningful (and maybe a little cool), but I also had to ask: Is this industry growing? What qualifications do I need? Will this job support the life I want?

It’s not about giving up on your goals. It’s about shaping them in a way that’s sustainable. You don’t have to pick between passion and practicality — you just need to be smart about how they fit together. Dream big, but also check the fine print.

Final thoughts (if you’ve made it this far)

If you’re still figuring it all out — good, Great even! That means you’re thinking, questioning and growing. Choosing a career isn’t a one-time decision; it’s an ongoing process of trial, error, and self-discovery. You don’t need to have a ten-year plan, a perfect resume, or all the answers right now. You just need curiosity, honesty, and the guts to take one small step at a time. 

Your path might not be straight — most aren’t — but that doesn’t mean you’re lost. It just means you’re learning. And honestly? That’s the best place to start.