Knowing where you want to go in your life is one of those things that always feels more achievable than it really is. We as humans are indecisive to our very core, and even in the most ideal of situations, the allure of the “what if” scenario can have us second-guessing every boon we’ve ever received. This can lead many of us, especially those of us who are out of school but haven’t quite started on a career path, to feel completely lost and unfocused in our efforts to start our journey into adulthood.

If you’re someone who has been feeling lost, just know that you are not alone. Gartner HR research suggests that only a quarter of employees feel completely certain about their job prospects, and with the world only now starting to rebuild after the shakeup of COVID-19 lockdowns, it’s easy to see how people are feeling lost.

However, there is still hope, and there are ways to take control of your career journey regardless of where in that path you find yourself.

Try to Picture What Success Means For You

To clarify, when we say this, I don’t mean saying “success means being a criminal lawyer” or “success means being the CEO of a sporting goods brand”, namely because if that is your goal you’ve already got some solid direction. Rather, I want you to think about what it is that you want to get out of your career. For some, that will mean a high level of wealth and stability. For others, that goal will involve supporting their community or making a difference in the lives of children. We all have our drives, and what is most important to us, and whilst in an ideal world we would want to earn $200k a year helping the less fortunate, sometimes we have to prioritise what exactly our passions push us to.

If you’re someone who wants to earn a lot of money and doesn’t necessarily mind working hard with little outlets for creativity in their field, there are a number of labour jobs that pay very well, or you could consider going into entrepreneurship or studying up on business to start your career journey. If you want to support early education, teaching can take you anywhere. The options for where to begin are limitless, which is what makes this such an important first step.

Already Have a Career But Aren’t Progressing? Speak Up

Sometimes, it’s not a lack of passion that leaves you feeling uncertain, but rather a lack of progress. You have goals, you want to rise in your industry and pick up new skills, but time and time again, it seems that you’re progressing, only to look back and see that you’re still at the starting line. If this sounds familiar, then it might be time to speak with your supervisor. A good company is one that’s invested in its staff’s success, and if you want to rise up and take on more responsibilities over time, then scheduling a meeting with a supervisor is the best way to start.

Talk to your supervisor about the work you’re doing, as well as where you want to develop your skills and discuss a possible roadmap for meeting your goals. You need to go into this understanding that a process of this kind will require you to show your supervisors that you are up to the task of moving up in the company and that they should put their faith in you. It’s not always easy, but if you’re dreaming of progress, it’s a fantastic starting point.

Ask For Opportunities, and Be Open to Feedback

Sometimes, waiting for others to appreciate your skills just isn’t going to cut it. You can be providing 110% every day, working long hours and really going above and beyond for a company, only for it to go unnoticed by those you’re doing it for. It’s not pleasant, but if you want to succeed, it often means doing what you can to let people know that you want to take on more.

For those who are working at a job and want to develop themselves within that company, ask for more responsibilities, ask for feedback and stay active with the teams that you work in. By standing out, you provide people with a reason to pay attention to you. For those who are looking to change careers, put your hand up for freelance projects when opportunities arise. There is always a need for writers, editors, marketing specialists and more that can work independently, so if you have the skills, but just haven’t been given the opportunity to flesh out your resume, that is a great way to start.

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It’s not always easy to stay focused on a goal, let alone start to take the steps towards really achieving it. However, the opportunity to try new things and expand your capabilities is one of those things that just makes life worth living. So, get out there, and see what you can do; Your future self will thank you.