TheCareerGrid

A LOT of us have been spiralling about our careers lately. Overthinking every decision, wondering if you’ve wasted time, thinking you’re behind. Writing this is giving me flashbacks because this used to be me all the time.

So I’m not surprised when clients talk to me about feeling this way. There’s this pressure to have everything figured out as early as possible and just stay on that path for the rest of your career.

But there’s actually a framework that explains why we feel like this, and why it’s completely normal and expected. It’s called the 20/30/40 framework. And once you understand it, a lot of that pressure starts to lift.

The idea is really simple. Your career isn’t something you figure out once. It evolves over decades, and each phase has a very different purpose. When I reflect on my own career, I can’t help but resonate with that.

In your 20s, you’re not supposed to have it figured out. You’re supposed to be trying things. Changing roles, exploring different industries, figuring out what you don’t like just as much as what you do. It’s not a sign of failure, its actually your data. It’s how you start understanding where you actually fit.

I can see why people feel like they’re falling behind when they move around or pivot, but this is exactly what this stage is for. You don’t necessarily need to completely pivot unless you hate the industry, but job hopping and experimenting should absolutely be on the agenda.

Then your 30s hit, and this is where things start to move. You’ve built experience, you start seeing patterns in what you’re good at, and you begin refining. Doubling down on strengths, building deeper skills, positioning yourself more intentionally. You know more about who you are, what you want, and what you bring. You might not be at the top yet, but you’re getting closer.

Then from what I hear, in your 40s, something interesting happens. You gain clarity. You know what you bring to the table, you’re not trying to prove yourself anymore, and you start making decisions based on what actually works for your life. You have more control, and for a lot of people, this is where confidence finally catches up with experience.

Now I know some of you are reading this thinking, yes, this makes sense… in an ideal world. And you’re not wrong. Because even though this framework holds up, it doesn’t always reflect how the market actually behaves, especially right now. It also doesn’t need to be linked to age, but the point is phases.

And this is where things have changed.

We’re not operating in a stable, predictable career ladder anymore. We’re in a market where layoffs are ongoing, roles are constantly evolving, technology is reshaping entire functions, and competition is global.

So while the framework tells you it’s okay to figure things out over time, the market is now forcing us to think about our positioning much earlier.

This is where people get stuck. They assume they’ll figure it out eventually, but if you stay invisible during that process, it becomes much harder to move through those stages. Visibility changes things. When people know you, when your experience is out there, when your skill set is clear, you naturally create more opportunities for yourself.

So yes, you don’t need to have everything figured out right away. But you do need to be intentional, even in your “figuring it out” phase. Pay attention to what you’re known for. Build relationships as you go. Talk about what you’re learning. Don’t wait until you need a job to become visible.

Because the people who struggle the most in this market are the ones who sit back and wait. The ones who work hard, stay loyal, keep their head down, and then one day realise no one outside their team actually knows what they’re capable of.

The 20/30/40 framework should take the pressure off, especially if you’re an overthinker or someone who feels like they’re behind. Because it reminds you that you’re not behind, you’re just in a phase.

The phase is not necessarily linked to your age but what it teaches us is we are walking before we run and it’s important to learn then earn then invest, rather than do one in each decade.

Just don’t go through that phase invisible.

Have a workplace or talent related question for the team at TheCareerGrid? We would LOVE to hear from you! Contact us at info@thecareergrid.com

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