Virtually everyone reaches a point in their lives – whether that’s in their early 20s or late 50s – when they realise ‘work’ is so much more than just a reliable salary. We start to think about the legacy we’ll leave behind, and whether our lives will have contributed something positive to the world. And since where we work is the place we spend the most time (unless you seriously love a lay in, that is) changing the course of your career to something more meaningful is the single most effective way to bring your short time on earth into better alignment with your values.
Of course, it takes great planning, enough foresight and a little luck to make a seamless transition into a new role, but if you really do want to make a difference, it is possible. Where there’s a will, there’s a way, as they say…here are 5 IDEAL tips for finding a meaningful career path.
PRIORITISE
Chances are the parts of your job that bring you the most satisfaction are the ones that resonate most with your own personal idea of ‘meaning’, not money. It might be helping a confused or anxious client resolve a problem, mentoring a junior employee, or the aspects of your job that allow you to be the most creative, but almost always, it’s the human interaction, sense of community and positive contributions to people’s lives that provide that all important sense of meaning.
Once you’ve done a little introspection around this – and please, do – you should figure out how to incorporate more of these activities into your career – whether that means trying for a promotion in a different department, researching a move into a different industry, or even starting your own company.
FIND A CAUSE THAT RESONATES WITH YOU
Once you’ve decided that you value people over the pound, it’s a good idea to ask yourself a few searching questions in order to narrow down your options. What charities, causes and non-profits would you be most likely to give your time or money to? Are there any ways you could support these causes in your current work or outside of your job during your free time? If you want to help people who need to raise money while helping yourself, then you may want to try becoming a fundraising distributor. You can, for example, help out local schools with their fundraising events by promoting unique and highly profitable fundraisers.
CHOOSE A TYPE OF COMPANY WHO SPEAK FOR YOU
Another way to find meaning in your career is not to drastically shift course, but stay on a similar track instead for a company more in line with your morals, for instance within an organization that has a reputation for good corporate social responsibility, is known for running outreach and community programs, or supports worthy causes with some of its profits.
It can’t hurt to send your CV to some of these places so they know you’re in the market should an opportunity come up. There are employment platforms out there, like LGBT jobs, which allow you to search and apply for roles at organizations which promote an inclusive company culture.
LOOK CLOSER TO HOME
Many companies have at least investigated the idea of getting more involved with their communities or a good cause, and these efforts might just have gotten a little dusty or been forgotten about once the promotional impact of such claims has worn off. But, if you’re motivated to do good, you could volunteer to become the company champion around these efforts and help revive them. Outside of the office, there are certainly opportunities to volunteer your time or expertise, as well as great platforms to find volunteer opportunities and more.
WHAT OPPORTUNITIES CAN YOU CREATE?
If your company doesn’t yet have an outreach or community program, why not step up and help start one? You’ll almost certainly find there are plenty of your colleagues who will be keen to help out and welcome the chance to add more meaning to their own careers. And those that aren’t…well, they’re not worth bothering with anyway.
There’s an almost endless list of potential initiatives you could implement – from a comprehensive recycling program for the office, organizing a blood drive or food and clothing collection for the local shelter, getting some of your colleagues together to volunteer at your nearest animal shelter or help with a beach or river clean-up, or teaching technical or computer skills at an underprivileged school in your city, to name but a few.
If your managers or the big boss are keen on the idea, you could even formalize an arrangement with a non-profit, make volunteering and fundraising part of your company teambuilding, and help to promote the causes you get involved with on your company’s social media pages – great for them and also good PR for the business.
BONUS TIP: BE PREPARED TO RETRAIN
Making big career moves often means introducing a whole raft of change into your life – and not merely in terms of who your co-workers are or where your office is based. This is especially true if you are entering a new industry, which may require you to retrain or take on certain qualifications ahead of time.
However, it’s vital that you see this as a benefit instead of a roadblock. After all, additional training will help you to better harness your skillset while giving you the tools you need to turn your passion into profit. For example, if you are a medical professional looking to delve into the world of aesthetic treatments, then you may want to take on an additional aesthetics elearning course to further refine your skills and put your best foot forward as you step into your new career.
And that’s just one example of many. Remember; the more qualifications under your belt – the better. This is because it adds credibility to your name, making it easier for new customers to trust you and rely on your services.