How to Build a Meaningful Career

It’s practically a given that you’ll want your career to not only be a successful one, but also one that holds purpose or meaning in the sense that you really care about what you’re doing. Unfortunately, most of us don’t make the kind of job decisions that lead to fulfillment. There’s a simple reason for that: we were never taught how.

It makes sense, really; as we mature into our twenties, it’s rare for a teacher, mentor, or parent to get us thinking about meaningful work while offering to show us mental models conducive to pursuing that goal. Hey, I love my parents, and I had some great teachers, but success and happiness are often seen as a little too mutually exclusive. It doesn’t have to be that way. There are a few principles once applied that can transform an ordinary job search into a lifelong career search – and not just any career; one at the worst, you enjoy, and at the best, you absolutely love. 

Define “Meaningful”

You’ll have to translate this word on your own because it involves defining an intensely personal set of priorities. Are you seeking respect? Do you love a challenge? Will you become part of a mission you believe in? There’s no wrong answer unless it’s wrong for you. Just don’t limit yourself to the obvious things like salary, position, and the status of the company you’re looking at. There are some underlying considerations worthy of your due diligence.

Legacy – What becomes of your work? What fruit does it bear? While you may do a lot of emailing and telephoning and conferencing, there will certainly be concrete outcomes. What impact are you making?

Growth – Identify personal strengths you’d like to improve and find a way to use them in a rewarding way. A natural relationship builder might thrive in psychology or marketing while a strong writer could create fantastical fiction or compelling ad copy. Being good at something you hate doing doesn’t count.  

Freedom – We’re talking about what you desire but that also means getting what you need. Make sure your salary, benefits, and schedule give you the means to live the life you want. Again, it’s your life, so that could mean a big paycheck, more free time, lots of travel, or just cover for your superhero identity.

Find Like-Minded Communities and Resources

Millennials get a bad rap but the data tells a different story. Workforce studies indicate that the alleged “me generation” is the principal constituency of a new economy that prioritizes meaning over money. In response to this paradigm shift, organizations have been founded with the intent to bolster support for purpose-driven careers and initiatives. You don’t have to be a millennial to take advantage of them.

Imperative offers a one year Certified Purpose Leader Program that teaches professionals to lead their employees and teams through self-realizing work that uncovers personal purpose and ideas to connect to it. Echoing Green empowers emerging leaders in business, investment, university, and social entrepreneurism to build and swell their philanthropic impact. Companies like Rework are more foundational: they’re a progressive recruiting firm matching the right individuals with the right organizations, largely emphasizing social, environmental, and cultural innovation.

 Dig a little deeper and you’ll find career planning tools, regional networking events, and specialized job boards catering to a “new” type of professional. The value of seeking out and surrounding yourself with purpose-driven individuals cannot be overstated. Peers can influence, motivate, and support. Begin to invest in ideas and ideals and not just specific business plans. It’s simply a matter of intent.

Leverage Your Skills

Don’t underestimate the broader value of your skills. Research has shown that mastering a particular craft or talent and performing it well greatly increases your chances of finding fulfilling work outside the boundaries of your existing career. Skills can get you hired. If you’ve ever had a career transition resume put together, you understand the criticality of emphasizing a skill set that’s well-suited to the new work you’re seeking. For example, a product manager having worked exclusively in the technology sector might underestimate the need for her particular skills and strengths in a surprisingly diverse number of organizations in both nonprofit and for-profit circles.

Skills facilitate career mobility in more than one direction; they provide choices. Once you’ve envisioned this new you and the opportunities and results that will make the new you happy, take a personal inventory. Remove your employment history from the equation and start with a blank slate, split down the middle. On one side, you’ve got your meaningful career and on the other, you’ve got all the skills, abilities, and talents that make you a valuable commodity. How do they fit? Does your excellent sales background position you to be an influential speaker and fundraiser for your favorite charity? Are you a business ethics professor dreaming of applying your knowledge with a values-based firm poised to impact international development initiatives? You get the point. Don’t pigeonhole yourself.        

Intentional Experimentation

Alex McPhillips was a well-paid sports journalist covering the Boston Red Sox for MLB.com. It sounds like a real-deal career, but Alex grew tired of writing about baseball. He was attracted to Barack Obama’s 2008 Presidential campaign and resonated strongly with its mission – enough so that he left his job and became a volunteer. He leveraged his existing skill set as a writer and communicator into a paid job and eventually an official role with the White House Office of Management and Budget. Before long, he was actually guiding social media initiatives for the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.

You don’t have to wait until the next step in your career to shift your priorities. I’m certainly not saying you should quit your job, but nothing is stopping you from seeking opportunities that inspire you and excite you. Develop a habit for experimenting with these opportunities. Get involved with things you really care about. It’s morning coffee for the soul. 

Robynn Storey, PHR is the founder and owner of "Storeyline Resumes", a well-known, well respected Personal Branding Company. In business for 16 years, with well over 40,000 resumes developed, Storeyline Resumes has never lost the "personal touch" when it comes to working one-on-one with their clients. Known for their effectiveness and nearly 100% success rate for helping clients to 'get more interviews', Storeyline Resumes is a surprisingly affordable option in the world of executive resume services.

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