2 answers
Cal
Student
Dubuque, Iowa
1
Question
Updated
170 views
If you ever felt stuck or wanting more from your career, how did you go about getting it and being satisfied?
Not pertaining to money or pay, but for community or sense of purpose in the workplace or feeling like your degree/experience were not being used to their potential.
Login to comment
2 answers
Jennifer Bloomquist- CIPP/US/E, CIPM
Risk Specialist for Privacy and Confidentiality Impact Accessments
23
Answers
Clarksville, Tennessee
Updated
Jennifer’s Answer
Hi Cal,
This is a great question and is one a lot of people face at some point in their career. There are times when a job is just job, a way to put a roof over your head and food on the table and meaning needs to be made outside of the workplace if your exact position doesn't feel meaningful. A lot of people feel fulfilled by volunteering outside of work hours, being part of a faith community if that is their background, or making a career or employer change. All of those are valid ways of doing things. There is a dignity in work itself, and for some people that is enough. An honest day's labor for an honest day's wage, as the saying goes.
One way of looking at it is to define what value you want the job or outside activity to fulfil. Putting a word or words to it like Lisa has suggested is a great starting point. An example might be something like "I want to feel like I'm helping people." There are a lot of different facets one can look through with that type of example if we use a diamond as our image. There can be direct helping of people in something like a job as a teacher, customer service agent, physician, etc. There can be second tier helping people such as working for a corporation. Being part of a team that develops a product that solves a problem for the customer can also bring that kind of fulfillment. A lot of how one can feel fulfilled by the job itself is how one frames it.
Another way one can feel that type of fulfilment is through relationships with one's coworkers. For example, if someone has a job where they get to train someone to work on the team, that is a way of helping people too, even if the company and the product seem far removed from that value. Being invested in other people's success is a great way to frame it.
Another way is to look to work for an organization that values things like volunteerism, giving back to the community, and fostering a positive work environment for workers and customers in the local area.
This is a great question and is one a lot of people face at some point in their career. There are times when a job is just job, a way to put a roof over your head and food on the table and meaning needs to be made outside of the workplace if your exact position doesn't feel meaningful. A lot of people feel fulfilled by volunteering outside of work hours, being part of a faith community if that is their background, or making a career or employer change. All of those are valid ways of doing things. There is a dignity in work itself, and for some people that is enough. An honest day's labor for an honest day's wage, as the saying goes.
One way of looking at it is to define what value you want the job or outside activity to fulfil. Putting a word or words to it like Lisa has suggested is a great starting point. An example might be something like "I want to feel like I'm helping people." There are a lot of different facets one can look through with that type of example if we use a diamond as our image. There can be direct helping of people in something like a job as a teacher, customer service agent, physician, etc. There can be second tier helping people such as working for a corporation. Being part of a team that develops a product that solves a problem for the customer can also bring that kind of fulfillment. A lot of how one can feel fulfilled by the job itself is how one frames it.
Another way one can feel that type of fulfilment is through relationships with one's coworkers. For example, if someone has a job where they get to train someone to work on the team, that is a way of helping people too, even if the company and the product seem far removed from that value. Being invested in other people's success is a great way to frame it.
Another way is to look to work for an organization that values things like volunteerism, giving back to the community, and fostering a positive work environment for workers and customers in the local area.
Lisa Lebow
Customer Success Manager
4
Answers
Lincoln, Nebraska
Updated
Lisa’s Answer
Hi Cal! I'm sure you're not alone! It sounds like you might be ready to make a job or career shift. I'd encourage you to do some reflection and think about your personal values. What's most important to you? What are you passionate about? What motivates you? When do you feel like you are making an impact? The answers to these questions can help you find organizations that have a mission that is more aligned to the things that you find personally meaningful.