When you think about your professional future, what’s the first feeling that hits you? Excitement? Hope? Maybe a little anxiety mixed in? Or does it all feel like a giant question mark, with the future more uncertain than ever?

In a world where the ground seems to shift faster than we can find our footing, it feels like every time we check the news, we see something that forces us to question our future. To better understand how today’s workers feel about their professional outlook, Kickresume surveyed 1,584 respondents globally. 

Here's a quick rundown of the most intriguing findings: 

  • 67% of respondents feel more positive about their professional future now than they did just a few years ago.
  • More than 80% of respondents feel they have at least some degree of control over their professional trajectory. 
  • When thinking about their future, our participants identified excitement (39%), hope (38%), and optimism (38%) as their strongest emotions. 
  • 30% of respondents said they regain their sense of hope within a few hours after experiencing a setback, while 26% recover within a day. 
  • A solid 50% of respondents are confident that hard work will definitely lead to success, while just 2% don’t believe it’s possible at all.
  • Mid-level professionals are the least content with the idea of staying in the same job for the next decade, with 60% saying they wouldn’t be happy. 

Excitement, hope, optimism, and a bit of that good old anxiety 

The past few years have been anything but easy — marked by global pandemic, economic uncertainty, geopolitical shifts, and workplace transformations at every turn. But despite all these challenges, most workers seem to feel pretty good about their professional future.

When we asked respondents, “When you think about your professional future, what do you feel?,” the most common feelings were excitement (39%), hope (38%), and optimism (38%).

Of course, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. About 30% of respondents reported feeling uncertain, and nearly a quarter mentioned anxiety (24%). Fear (11%), frustration (10%), and sadness (4%) were much less common, but they’re still part of the picture. 

If we look at these numbers through the lens of different age groups, we’ll see that each generation seems to be characterized by their own set of emotions: 

  • Gen Z tends to feel more positively with higher levels of hope, optimism, and confidence. 
  • Millennials show strong positive emotions like excitement and curiosity but also lead in feelings like fear, frustration, and sadness.
  • Finally, Gen X appears more anxious compared to the younger generations, which could relate to concerns about career stability or long-term prospects.

Another factor that seems to influence how our respondents feel about their professional future is their current career level:

  • Entry-level workers seem to be the most positive, with the highest levels of excitement, hope, optimism, and confidence.
  • Mid-level professionals, on the other hand, show more uncertainty, frustration, and fear, possibly reflecting the pressures of career progression.
  • Similarly, senior-level workers report the highest levels of anxiety, which could be tied to leadership responsibilities. 

Overall, this data suggests that while the future may feel unpredictable, people aren’t letting that stop them from feeling hopeful. Perhaps it’s because workers have adapted to change so many times in recent years that they’ve grown more resilient. 

Threats have faded—or have they? growing hope amid uncertainty

It turns out that this positive thinking might not be just momentary — it seems to be a part of a bigger shift. When asked to look back on how their outlook on their professional future has changed over the past few years, the majority of workers said they feel more positive now than they did before:

  • Much more positively: 37%
  • Slightly more positively: 30%
  • Slightly more negatively: 16%
  • The same: 10%
  • Much more negatively: 7%

These numbers suggest that 67% of respondents feel more positive about their professional future now than they did just a few years ago. Only 23% reported feeling more negative. 

The reason for this shift might be quite simple: a few years ago, the professional landscape didn’t look as promising as it does now. During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the job market was filled with uncertainty and economic slowdowns. People weren’t just worried about career growth — they were worried about job security, stability, and, in some cases, whether their industries would survive at all.

Fast forward to today, and while new challenges like the rise of AI are certainly on the horizon, many of those earlier threats have faded. Plus, the rising acceptance of remote work has opened up new possibilities that didn’t exist before. 

Although the overall sentiment about the future is largely positive, it’s not the same across all generations:

  • Gen Z and Millennials are leading in positivity, with their top responses being “much more positively” and “slightly more positively.”
  • However, while many Gen X surveyees still feel slightly more positive, a significant number also reported feeling slightly more negatively.
  • Moreover, Gen X is the only generation where more people said they feel “much more negatively” about their future than those who feel the same as before.

The reason for this could be the fact that Gen Z and Millennials are still in the growth phases of their careers. Gen X, on the other hand, may be facing challenges related to career stability or feeling the pressure of balancing professional responsibilities with personal commitments.

Food for hope, people largely feel they’re in control

It’s one thing to feel hopeful about the future, but it’s another to believe you actually have the power to shape it. The strong sense of optimism we saw earlier might be partly explained by something just as important: a sense of control. 

That’s why we wanted to know: Do people feel in control of their careers? It turns out, most do — at least to some extent. 

While only 16% of respondents said they feel in full control of their careers, the majority described having strong control, with some limits (33%) or at least limited control (32%). On the other end of the spectrum, just 7% feel they have no control at all, with another 12% saying they have very little.

The findings suggest that most people don't see themselves as passive observers in their careers. More than 80% of respondents feel they have at least some degree of control over their professional trajectory. 

This sense of agency likely plays a big role in why so many people feel positive about their professional future. When people believe they can influence their path, they’re more likely to approach it with confidence and optimism.

Planning brighter tomorrows is the way to go? Yes, for many!

Feeling in control of one’s career is empowering, but true confidence comes from having a plan. While many workers believe they can shape their professional future, how far ahead do they actually look?

When asked, "How far into the future do you plan your career?" responses varied widely:

The largest group takes a mid-term approach, with 2-4 years ahead being the most common response. However, planning horizons differ significantly based on the career stage and age of our respondents. 

Baby Boomers, nearing the later stages of their careers, tend to plan further ahead, likely thinking about retirement or financial security. On the other hand, Gen Z, just getting started in the workforce, seems to be focused more on the short term — planning months or a year ahead. That makes sense, considering they’re navigating entry-level jobs and figuring out their paths.

Additionally, both Gen X and Millennial respondents mostly stick with the 2-4 year range. 

Similarly, our data suggests that the further people are in their career, the further ahead they seem to plan:

  • C-suite executives and senior professionals often look 2-4 years or even 5+ years ahead. 
  • Mid-level professionals and entry-level workers also plan ahead, but many admit they don’t plan their career path at all.

Planning ahead helps people feel more in control, which, as we saw earlier, makes them more optimistic about their careers. That doesn’t mean everyone needs a rigid five-year plan, but having some direction can help with making better career moves and adapting to changes. 

92% achieve their goals (at least sometimes)!

When thinking about the future, people often look to their past achievements to gauge what’s possible. Reaching professional goals provides a clear sense of progress, which, in turn, can boost confidence.

With that in mind, we asked respondents how often they feel they’re able to achieve their goals. Their answers offer insight into why so many feel optimistic about their professional future.

These numbers reveal that most workers — nearly 92% — believe they achieve their goals at least sometimes. A significant portion (38%) reported achieving them often, while 18% said they always do. 

On the other hand, only a small percentage (7%) said they rarely reach their goals, and less than 1% felt they never do.

But when we look at the results through the lens of career level, it becomes apparent that achieving goals isn’t the same for everyone:

  • 50% of respondents working as C-suite executives reported achieving their goals often.
  • The largest portion of mid-level professionals revealed that they achieve their goals only sometimes.
  • And, the biggest portion of respondents who said they always manage to achieve their goals were entry-level employees.

One possible explanation is that the goals set by entry-level professionals tend to be more immediate and tangible — which can make them easier to achieve. For example, completing training or mastering a new skill are milestones that can be reached within a short timeframe.

The fact that most respondents feel they’re achieving their goals likely ties into the positive outlook we saw earlier. When people feel like they’re making progress — no matter how big or small — it makes their career outlook more optimistic.

Preparation for tomorrow is hard work today, majority agrees

Speaking of achieving goals, it’s not just the outcomes that matter — it’s also about the belief in what makes those outcomes possible. A key part of feeling confident about the future is trusting that your efforts can lead to real results. That’s why we asked respondents whether they believe hard work is the key to achieving their goals.

The results reveal a strong belief in the power of effort. A solid 50% of respondents are confident that hard work will definitely lead to success, while 38% believe it’s likely. Only 10% think that they probably won’t reach their goals, and just 2% don’t believe it’s possible at all.

These numbers align closely with the earlier findings. As we've seen before, nearly 92% of respondents feel they’re able to achieve their goals at least sometimes. These results suggest that the belief in hard work can translate into actual success. 

As for the remaining 12% who expressed doubt that hard work alone leads to success, we asked them to elaborate on why they feel this way. Here’s what they shared:

  • Success depends more on luck, connections, or external factors: 25%
  • The system feels rigged or unfair toward those who rely on hard work: 22%
  • I’ve worked hard in the past but didn’t see results. 18%
  • Life goals require resources that hard work alone cannot provide: 18%
  • Too many obstacles, and systemic issues make success unattainable: 14%
  • Other: 3%

While people across all career levels recognize the influence of luck and connections, mid-level and entry-level professionals are particularly likely to feel that their life goals require resources beyond what hard work can secure.

This data highlights a common thread: while hard work is valued, many believe it’s not always enough in the face of external barriers. Factors like economic inequality, limited access to opportunities, and systemic challenges can make people feel that success isn’t just about personal effort.

22% struggle significantly to recoup their hope after a setback

Even though the majority of our respondents believe they can achieve their goals through hard work, the reality is that no one is immune to setbacks. Challenges, failures, and unexpected obstacles are part of any professional journey. That’s why we wanted to understand how quickly people bounce back after encountering a setback at work. 

30% of respondents said they regain their sense of hope within a few hours, while 26% recover within a day. An additional 22% report bouncing back immediately after a setback. On the other hand, 13% need about a week to recover, and for 9%, the feeling of discouragement lingers for more than a week.

These numbers suggest that most people — nearly 80% — are able to regain their sense of hope relatively quickly, often within the same day or even sooner. This ability to recover fast could be tied to the strong sense of control and optimism we observed earlier in the survey.

When individuals believe they have the power to influence their careers and achieve their goals, setbacks might feel more like temporary bumps in the road rather than insurmountable failures.

Here’s a highlight reel of the most standout data on how different generations and career levels handle setbacks:

  • Gen Z appears to be the most resilient generation, with 36% recovering from a setback within just a few hours. Only 5% reported that feelings of failure linger for more than a week, the lowest among all age groups.
  • Gen X, on the other hand, seems to struggle the most with setbacks. 11% admitted that negative feelings linger for over a week — the highest percentage across generations. Their most common recovery time is a day (29%), which shows a slightly slower bounce-back compared to younger peers.
  • Entry-level professionals also show impressive resilience, with 32% bouncing back from setbacks within a few hours. Only 7% experience lingering feelings beyond a week.
  • Senior-level professionals tend to carry the weight of setbacks for onger. 10% reported that negative feelings last more than a week.

These patterns suggest that younger workers and those earlier in their careers may find it easier to shake off setbacks, possibly because they’re still exploring and learning or feel less pressured. In contrast, more experienced professionals might feel the impact of setbacks more intensely, as for them, professional performance often comes with higher expectations and greater responsibilities.

Good news! Expectations are high, and people are looking forward with enthusiasm

Looking ahead to the next 10 years, the optimism we’ve seen throughout this survey only grows stronger. When asked about their job situation a decade from now, the majority of respondents further confirmed the positive feelings they've already expressed about their future.

56% expect their situation to be much better, and 23% anticipate it will be slightly better. Only 9% believe it will stay the same, while even fewer expect things to worsen — 8% foresee a slightly worse situation, and just 4% think their job will be much worse.

What’s particularly striking is that this optimism is consistent across generations and career levels. Whether entry-level employees or C-suite executives, Baby Boomers or Gen Z, people across the board share a similar belief that their job situation will improve over the next decade. 

This consistency suggests that, despite differences in age, experience, or role, there’s a shared sense of potential and progress among today’s workforce.

But optimism doesn’t necessarily mean contentment with the status quo. To explore this further, we asked: “If you remained in the same job for the next 10 years, would you feel content?”

  • 57% said no, they wouldn’t feel content,
  • while 43% said yes, they would.

Although the split isn’t drastic, it reveals that even with a largely positive outlook for the future, many people still crave growth, change, and new challenges. 

Looking at the data more closely, we see some interesting differences across career levels and generations:

  • Mid-level professionals are the least content with the idea of staying in the same job for the next decade, with 60% saying they wouldn’t be happy. 
  • In contrast, C-suite executives show the highest contentment at 48%, which makes sense given they’ve likely achieved many of their professional goals and enjoy a sense of stability.

When it comes to generational differences:

  • Millennials are the least content with staying put, with 60% saying they wouldn’t feel satisfied. 
  • On the other hand, Baby Boomers are the most content, with 61% saying they’d be happy in the same job for the next decade. 

Final thoughts 

Our survey shows that despite facing a rapidly changing world and enduring various global challenges, workers across different generations and career levels continue to look forward with hope. 

Their optimism is backed by a strong sense of control, the ability to set and achieve goals, and a growing confidence in their ability to bounce back from setbacks.

That said, while the overall outlook is positive, there's also an undeniable hunger for growth and change. Many workers, regardless of age or career level, express a desire to move forward. The fact that more than half of the respondents wouldn't be content remaining in the same job for the next decade alone speaks volumes. 

As we move forward, it will be exciting to watch how these sentiments evolve and whether the trends of optimism and resilience can prevail. 

Note

This anonymous online survey by Kickresume, conducted in January 2025, gathered insights from 1,584 global participants on workplace music attitudes and policies.

About Kickresume

Kickresume is an AI-based career tool that helps candidates source jobs and raise salary with powerful resume and cover letter tools, skills analytics, and automated job search assistance. It already helped more than 6 million job seekers worldwide.