“So… how’s it going?”
Navigating Holiday Parties When You’re Early in Your Career (or Not Quite Sure What You’re Doing Yet)
Holiday parties can be fun, chaotic, loud, and strangely revealing. If you’re early in your career, walking into one feels a little like stepping into a social maze. Kids are darting around, coworkers and friends are catching up on life updates, and someone inevitably turns to you with the classic question:
“So… how’s it going?”
If you’ve been unsure about your job, your major, or what comes next, that question hits differently. You smile, you nod, you say something like “It’s going okay” or “I’m figuring things out.”
But inside, you may be thinking:
I actually don’t know what I’m doing.
I don’t know what direction I’m headed.
And I don’t know how to talk about it without feeling awkward.
You’re not alone. Not even close.
Why This Feeling Happens
Early career is one of the most uncertain phases of adulthood. You’re expected to know yourself, know your strengths, choose a path, and commit to it—all before you’ve had a real chance to build experience.
And then you go to a holiday party and someone asks a simple question that suddenly feels big.
You look around the room and see kids chasing each other, parents chatting about work, and people your age talking about promotions or grad school. Meanwhile you’re wondering if you chose the wrong major, if you should switch fields, or if you’re “behind.”
You’re not behind. You’re just early.
Early is a phase worth embracing.
What You Can Do When You Don’t Know What to Do With Yourself
Here’s what I tell the students and young professionals I work with through Abivi:
1. Start with your baseline
Feeling lost usually means you don’t have a clear snapshot of your natural strengths yet. Think of it like walking into that holiday party without knowing anyone—you’re floating.
Assessments like Rockport, MBTI, and the Strong Interest Inventory give you a grounded starting point. They help you understand who you are before you try to pick a direction.
2. Look at what energizes you—not just what you’re good at
You may be good at something that drains you. You may be mediocre at something you actually love. Purpose often hides in that gap.
3. Give Yourself Permission to Explore
Your first job or major is not your final identity. You’re experimenting. Use these early years to test things out, talk to people in fields you’re curious about, and keep learning.
4. Redefine Progress
Progress isn’t climbing a ladder. It’s building clarity.
If you walk away from December knowing one new thing about yourself, that’s progress.
How to Answer “How’s It Going?” When You’re Not Sure Yet.
Here are a few ways to respond without feeling like you’re giving a life report:
“Good! I’m exploring a few career paths and learning what fits me best.”
“I’m figuring out my direction, and honestly it feels good to take it step-by-step.”
“I’m working on understanding what kind of work suits me long-term.”
All of these are honest. All of them show growth. None of them require you to have everything figured out.
A Final Thought
Most people at that holiday party—kids, parents, teens, early-career professionals—are figuring something out. You just notice your own uncertainty more because you’re living inside it.
The best thing you can do is give yourself space, gather real insight into your strengths, and build a path with intention.
And if you ever feel like you don’t know what to do with yourself, that’s exactly where real clarity often begins.
Ready to figure out your next step?
Let’s start moving you forward with purpose.
If you’re feeling stuck, unsure, or just curious about what direction might fit you, Abivi can help you get clear.
Book a free 30-minute introduction call and we’ll walk through where you are, what you want, and which assessments—Rockport, MBTI, or Strong—can help you build your path with confidence.
