In the VUCA era, defined by Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity, can a university diploma still serve as your career map? In his talk “Sự nghiệp trong Kỷ nguyên bất định: Kiến tạo la bàn trong thời đại tấm bản đồ không còn ý nghĩa” (Career in the Age of Uncertainty: Crafting Personal Compass When the Map No Longer Applies), Associate Professor Doctor Pham Manh Ha proposes a different orientation: a personal compass. Drawing on his work with students, he highlights three quiet forces reshaping careers - the rise of AI as a partner, the project economy, and the economy of meaning - while hinting at three ways to turn university into the safest laboratory (for capability building, boundary-testing, and value creation) and three strategies to craft that compass (through action, identity, and inquiry). There is no prescriptive formula; only signposts strong enough to help you choose a direction - and take the first step. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Manh Ha has nearly 30 years of experience spanning teaching, research, and academic leadership in occupational psychology, career counseling, and education management. A senior lecturer and policy advisor to the Ministry of Education and Training, he has authored 40+ scholarly articles (including 14 international) and multiple textbooks shaping K–12 career-guidance practice in Vietnam. He chaired the academic council at the Vietnam Institute for Psychological Intervention & Training and serves on the National Executive Committee (2022–2027) of the Vietnam Association of Psychology & Education. His work connects scholarship with impact—training educators and counselors, informing national programs, and advancing evidence-based career and life-skills education for Vietnamese youth. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx