How are you supposed to find a path when every path is so uncertain?
The only constant in today’s world is change itself. Between shifting industries, evolving technologies, and global uncertainties, it’s completely normal to feel unsure about your career path. That discouragement you might feel? We’ve all been there. The good news? While we can’t predict the future, we can prepare for it, and you’ve got more control than you think.
Be Open-Minded
Big dreams are essential, but fixating exclusively on prestigious companies like Chanel or Universal Studios can limit your potential—these roles are fiercely competitive, especially without experience. Instead, consider how your creativity could thrive in unexpected sectors like healthcare, tech, or education, where innovative thinking is highly valued. Smaller companies, too, offer unique advantages: hands-on experience, the chance to shape your role, and creative freedom rarely found in corporate environments. By broadening your search, you might discover fulfilling opportunities that not only build your skills but also open doors you hadn’t imagined.
Creative Opportunities is a great place to start, with dozens of new jobs, internships, and competitions added every week ranging from entry-level to senior positions in both local and even international capacities. Maybe try using filters you never thought of and see what kind of positions pop up! You never know, the role you think you would get in a million years just might be waiting for you to apply!
Be Proactive
UAL offers several events throughout the academic year that you can attend, as well as a slew of resources at your disposal which you can easily access. Attend UAL’s annual Careers Fair this upcoming October, sign up to Freelance week to learn about how to get into the world of freelancing, or International Futures if you are here on a visa and want to know all the best ways to start your career in the UK.
UAL also has many resources to help you plan for your finances, including the Money Management page for students.
Be Resilient
Setbacks are inevitable—rejections, tough situations, and discouraging days will come. This is normal! Every successful creative has faced obstacles; resilience means pushing forward despite them, not pretending struggles don’t exist. Honour your feelings, but never tolerate harassment, discrimination, or bullying. Report such incidents to student services immediately—you deserve support, not endurance.
Be Mindful
Your wellbeing matters—start by tuning into your body’s needs. Whether it’s taking moments for quiet reflection, practising mindful breathing, or moving your body through exercise, these small but consistent habits build resilience against stress. And remember: asking for help is a strength, not a weakness. UAL’s Wellbeing Hub offers professional counselling and pastoral support, while your course leaders can provide both academic and personal guidance. You have a whole community here to help you thrive, not just survive.
Uncertainty can feel paralysing—like it’s holding you back and isolating you from what comes next. But here’s the secret: that same uncertainty is what makes your creative journey thrilling. It’s the space where unexpected opportunities emerge, where you’ll discover paths you never knew existed. The more you lean into that unknown, equipping yourself with these strategies, the more you’ll start to see possibility where you once saw only fear. That’s when everything shifts: your career path stops feeling like a maze and starts feeling like an expedition designed just for you.
If you’re looking for more ways to gain experience and jumpstart your career, don’t stop at internships.why not check out UAL’s jobs board, Creative Opportunities? Run by Careers and Employability, it is the go-to hub for creative students and graduates. You can find jobs, paid internships, competitions, and volunteering roles. If you are studying an art, design, communications, or a performance course or have recently graduated, then this is the place for you! Our goal is to help you achieve your ambitions and make a living doing what you love.