Choosing a career is one of the most important decisions in life. Yet, many students, freshers, and experienced professionals struggle to identify the right direction. Some have the necessary qualifications but find it difficult to get hired. Others have jobs but feel uncertain about their long-term career goals.

Why does this happen? What do employers really expect from candidates? And how can individuals build careers that align with their strengths, interests, and aspirations?

These are some of the important questions explored in Expert Talk Episode 178, featuring Stuti Mehta, Founder of SETU, in conversation with Vipul M. Mali, host of Expert Talk Show by Vipul The Wonderful.

Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/iE99gKnv5CA

Who Is Stuti Mehta?

Stuti Mehta is the Founder of SETU and brings over 13 years of experience across education, counselling, recruitment and people development.

Her work focuses on helping individuals understand their career options, develop professional confidence and move towards their goals with greater clarity.

Through SETU, she works across recruitment, career guidance, clarity coaching and professional development. Her approach connects two important perspectives: what individuals want from their careers and what organizations expect from potential employees.

Her philosophy is simple: getting a job matters, but building a career that suits your strengths and long term aspirations matters just as much.

1. Why Is Career Confusion So Common?

Career confusion is not limited to students or fresh graduates. Working professionals also experience uncertainty, particularly when their current roles no longer match their interests, expectations or future ambitions.

Several factors contribute to this confusion.

Pressure from family and society: Many individuals choose careers based on expectations rather than personal interests and abilities.

Limited self-awareness: People may know their qualifications but have not explored their strengths, working preferences or long term priorities.

Too many options: With changing industries, new technologies and evolving job roles, choosing a career can feel overwhelming.

Fear of making the wrong decision: Some people delay important career decisions because they worry about failure or disappointing others.

The first step towards resolving career confusion is self-awareness. Before asking which job is best, individuals should understand what they want from their professional lives.

2. How to Choose the Right Career Path

A successful career does not look the same for everyone. One person may value financial growth, while another may prioritize learning, stability, flexibility or meaningful work.

A thoughtful career decision should consider four important factors:

Strengths: What are you naturally good at and which skills have you developed through experience?
Interests: What kind of work keeps you engaged and motivated?
Values: What matters most to you in a workplace and professional life?
Opportunities: Which career options offer realistic employment prospects and room for growth?

The objective is not to find a perfect job that meets every expectation. It is to identify a direction that balances personal interests, capabilities and practical realities.

Speaking with experienced professionals, exploring different industries and seeking career guidance can help individuals make more informed decisions.

Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/iE99gKnv5CA

3. Why Qualifications Alone Do Not Guarantee a Job

One of the important challenges in recruitment is the gap between academic qualifications and workplace readiness.

A candidate may have a relevant degree but still struggle to communicate effectively, demonstrate practical knowledge, solve problems or explain how their skills relate to a job.

Employers evaluate more than educational credentials. Depending on the role, they may also look for:

Relevant technical and functional skills.
Clear communication and listening abilities.
Problem-solving and critical thinking.
Professional attitude and willingness to learn.
Practical understanding of the role.
The ability to explain experience and achievements confidently.

This is particularly important for freshers, who may have limited professional experience but can still demonstrate their potential through internships, academic projects, practical assignments and examples of their learning.

Job readiness means preparing to perform in a real workplace, not simply preparing to submit applications.

Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/iE99gKnv5CA

4. What Can Freshers Do to Improve Their Employability?

Starting a career can be challenging because employers often seek experience, while freshers need an opportunity to gain that experience.

However, candidates can take several practical steps to improve their readiness.

Build relevant skills. Identify the skills commonly required in your target roles and work on developing them through courses, projects, internships or hands on practice.

Create a focused resume. Highlight relevant qualifications, projects, achievements, internships and transferable skills. Avoid filling the resume with information that does not support your application.

Prepare for interviews. Research the organization, understand the job description, and practice explaining your strengths, interests and examples of problem solving.

Improve communication. Practice expressing ideas clearly and answering questions with confidence. Effective communication is about clarity and relevance, not using complicated English.

Learn from feedback. If you are repeatedly unsuccessful in interviews, identify areas for improvement instead of sending more applications without changing your approach.

Small, consistent improvements can make a meaningful difference in a candidate's job search.

Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/iE99gKnv5CA

5. What Do Recruiters Look for During Interviews?

Recruiters want to understand whether a candidate can perform the role, adapt to the organization and contribute to its objectives.

The exact requirements vary by position, industry and seniority. However candidates should be prepared to explain their knowledge, demonstrate relevant skills and provide examples that support their claims.

A common mistake is memorizing interview answers without understanding the underlying questions.

Instead, candidates should prepare to discuss their experiences, decisions, achievements, challenges and learning. Freshers can use examples from college projects, internships, volunteering or other relevant activities.

Honesty is equally important. Candidates should not exaggerate their capabilities or claim expertise they cannot demonstrate.

An interview is not just an opportunity for an employer to evaluate a candidate. It is also an opportunity for the candidate to understand the role, expectations, team and working environment.

6. When Should You Consider a Career Change?

Not every difficult phase at work means that a career change is necessary. Sometimes, the challenge can be addressed by developing a new skill, discussing responsibilities with a manager or exploring opportunities within the same organization.

However, a deeper review may be worthwhile when:

Your work consistently conflicts with your interests or values.
Your strengths are rarely used in your current role.
Your long-term goals no longer align with your career direction.
You have explored reasonable ways to improve your current situation without meaningful progress.
You have discovered a different field that better matches your abilities and aspirations.

Before making a change, evaluate the skills you will need, the financial implications, available opportunities and the time required to transition.

A career change should ideally be a considered decision based on self-awareness and practical planning, rather than a reaction to one difficult day.

Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/iE99gKnv5CA

7. Professional Growth Requires Continuous Learning

Getting hired is an important milestone, but career development continues long after the first job.

Industries change, business needs evolve, and new technologies influence the way people work. Professionals who regularly update their skills and remain open to feedback are better prepared to respond to these changes.

Professional growth can involve technical learning, communication, leadership, networking, problem solving or taking on responsibilities that stretch your capabilities.

It also requires periodically reviewing your direction.

Ask yourself:

Am I learning skills that will remain relevant?
Do my current responsibilities support my long term goals?
What feedback have I received and what can I improve?
What is one practical step I can take towards my next career milestone?

These questions can help transform career development from an occasional activity into a continuous process.

Key Takeaways from Expert Talk Episode 178

The conversation with Stuti Mehta highlights several important lessons for students, job seekers and working professionals.

Career clarity begins with understanding yourself.
Qualifications are important, but practical skills and workplace readiness matter too.
Interview preparation should focus on genuine understanding and clear communication.
Recruiters need evidence of a can

Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/iE99gKnv5CA

[embed]https://youtu.be/iE99gKnv5CA[/embed]

Connect with Stuti Mehta:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stutivadaliamehta/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/setubystuti

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