How to Navigate Your Career When You Feel Lost

Feeling lost in your career?

In today's rapidly changing world, it's easy to feel lost as you navigate your career. The traditional career ladder, which once offered a clear path to success, has become less reliable, leaving many professionals disoriented and unsure of their next steps. But if you're feeling this way, it's important to know that it's not you; it's the landscape.

The Traditional Path vs. The Experiential Path 

Let's start by looking at two professionals who took very different career approaches. 

The Traditional Path: 

Meet Sarah. Sarah followed a conventional career trajectory. She completed her degree in marketing, secured a junior role at a reputable firm, and began her steady climb up the corporate ladder. A series of predictable promotions marked her progress, each tied to tenure and predefined roles. Sarah's career is a textbook example of the linear path many have historically aspired to—stable, secure, and somewhat rigid. 

The Experiential Path: 

Now, let's look at Jake. Unlike Sarah, Jake's career took a more winding route. He also started with a degree in marketing but quickly found himself drawn to opportunities beyond the confines of his initial role. Jake engaged in cross-functional projects, took on new challenges, and even switched industries to broaden his perspective. He didn't just focus on moving up the ranks; he focused on gaining diverse skills and staying agile in the face of market changes. 

As Sarah and Jake's stories unfold, we see the strengths and weaknesses of each path. Sarah's traditional path might seem like the safer bet in a stable environment. However, in today's dynamic and rapidly evolving world, Jake's ability to adapt, learn, and pivot positions him more effectively for long-term success. 

Image comparing Experiential and Traditional Career Pathways

Understanding the Shifts in Career Landscapes 

These differing paths reflect broader shifts in the professional landscape, driven by insights from leading thinkers such as Helen Tupper and Sarah Ellis, authors of The Squiggly Career, and Herminia Ibarra, who wrote Working Identity. Their work highlights how extended working lives, technological advancements, shifts in job structures, and evolving social expectations are reshaping career paths. 

Their work explores how these changes disrupt the traditional sequence of education, work, and retirement. The concept of a linear career, where each step is clear and predictable, is being replaced by something much more fluid and dynamic. 

Lynda Gratton and Andrew Scott's The 100-Year Life further illuminate how advancements in health and technology, which grant us an additional 20 to 30 years of life, are transforming what mid-career and retirement look like. This extended lifespan means many professionals will pivot their careers well into their 40s and 50s, staying engaged in meaningful work well past traditional retirement ages. 

Add to this the impact of the pandemic, which brought about a surge in remote work and the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence. Initially, these shifts offered new opportunities but also introduced unpredictability and complexity. As organisations now seek to balance in-person collaboration with the flexibility of remote work, employees are caught in a tension between personal freedom and professional expectations.

Owning Your Career in a New Era 

Despite these challenges, there is hope. The disruption of traditional career paths provides an unprecedented opportunity to redefine what a successful career looks like. Our desires and expectations from work evolve as we move through different stages of life. For many, the pandemic served as a wake-up call, prompting a reevaluation of what truly matters—passion, purpose, self-expression, and balance are becoming as important as financial compensation. 

Today's career landscape is less about climbing a ladder and more about navigating a "squiggly" path. This non-linear journey may seem daunting, but it's also empowering. Without the constraints of a predefined path, we can design a career that brings us fulfilment and happiness. 

However, this freedom also means we must take ownership of our careers more than ever. With multiple generations working side by side and an ageing population adding diversity to the workforce, a one-size-fits-all approach to career development no longer works. Personalised career frameworks that recognise individual motivations and needs are now essential. 

Conclusion: Embrace the Squiggly Career 

So, if you're feeling lost or unsure about sticking to a straight path, consider the possibility that an alternative route might be not only more fulfilling but also better suited to the realities of modern work. The challenge now is not just to find your way but to forge a new path that aligns with your values, passions, and the life you want to live. By taking control and embracing the "squiggly" nature of modern careers, you can create a professional life that is not only successful but also deeply satisfying.