Your 5-Step Guide to Finding (And Keeping) a Job You Love

Are you one of those who strongly believe that their job or career must bring meaning to their lives? You are not alone. Today, many employees believe that their work must be able to help them make a difference in their community, find a meaningful community, and make them feel valued.

Knowing what your purpose is at work and having a strong sense of identity can show you how to find a meaningful career and give your life meaning and motivation, according to Hatice Necla Keleş, a professor in the Department of Organizational Management at Bahçeşehir University in Istanbul, Turkey.

Keleş adds, “Nothing gives you more energy than a clear purpose. Without one, even just getting out of bed every morning becomes a challenge.”

Gen Z and Millennials: The Purpose-Filled Connection

In the last decade, workplaces have spent time and resources understanding what millennials want from the workplace. But as more members of Gen Z come of age and millennials take over organisations, companies are once again faced with another generation that must be understood for a harmonious and productive work dynamic.

While Gen Zs and millennials differ in their working styles and other priorities at work, they do share some common traits — including their desire for purpose in what they do, and finding a meaningful career.

Global network Deloitte conducted a Global 2022 Gen Z and Millennial survey that found meaning as one of the top drivers of consideration in working for their current employers. 21% of Gen Z answered, “I derive a sense of meaning from my work,” while 26% of millennials answered the same.

Meanwhile, JobStreet’s Decoding the Digital Talent Challenge report showed that 36% said that they wanted a job change because they felt undervalued in their current role; 29% said they wanted a better work-life balance; while 24% wanted to find a company that shared their personal beliefs.

Finding a job that gives you meaning and purpose is definitely crucial in boosting your morale at the workplace. Finding meaning in your work can also refer to reflecting on how your time is spent and maximised at work, and whether you have time to do the things that matter to you. Gen Z and millennial workers rated well-being and work-life balance the highest in both Deloitte and JobStreet surveys, proving that both generations crave flexibility and the opportunity to dedicate more time to their passions and pursuits even outside of work.

Finding joy at work

It is important to find what sparks joy at work. Knowing what makes you happy intrinsically motivates you, helping you have more initiative and drive in your career. It encourages you to look forward to opportunities for growth.

Finding joy at work can boil down to staying in tune with your core values and beliefs. Simply put: It is easy to perform at work constantly when you know what drives you. Finding a job you love can be easier when you know what your values are and how a company aligns with them.

This means reflecting on the things that matter to you. You can ask yourself the following questions to get started:

• What are the things I am good at?
• What drives me?
• What is important to me at work?
• What contributions do I want to make?

Answering these questions can help you uncover your core purpose of what sparks your joy and passion at work.\

1. Have realistic expectations

It’s important to set the record straight, as having unrealistic expectations might be standing in your way of finding a meaningful job and career. You must have the right priorities in place when you’re just starting your career.

There’s nothing wrong with prioritising financial benefits when you’re starting out. After all, you’re still slowly building up towards a career of purpose once you have the experience and track record for bargaining power. On the other hand, applying for jobs in which you have no experience, and expecting it to meet all your idealistic notions from the get-go might prove a possibly futile and disheartening exercise.

2. Know what purpose means to you

“Purpose” means different things to different people. Saying you want a “job with a purpose” is as generic as it gets. A rule of thumb when it comes to achieving goals is to always have a clear idea of what that goal looks like.

What do you envision your dream job to look like? Maybe it has to do with cruelty-free animal products or environmentally-friendly services? Or perhaps working with refugee support organisations? There are a million and one ways to contribute to society, but first, you need to do some soul-searching so you can start applying for the right jobs.

3. Identify your key strengths

Another way to determine the best way you can make a difference is by identifying your key strengths and attributes. Ask your friends and family what they think you’re good at. Better yet, think about all the times they ask for your help. What areas do you find yourself being most helpful in? That might help narrow things down.

4. Make a shortlist of potential professions or industries

Once you have a clear idea of what “purpose” means to you and where your key strengths lie, you can start shortlisting potential professions and industries that might be most relevant for you.

If you’re a fresh graduate, internships are a great way of exploring a particular field or industry. You can also do short-term volunteering to get an inside look at a particular organisation’s operations and work culture. Don’t forget to ask friends and family members for advice and insights, especially if they work in or know people in those fields.

5. Determine employers who fit the bill

Now that you have a reasonably good idea of where you want to employ your skills and talents, it’s time to identify like-minded employers who will be a good cultural fit for you and appreciate what you have to offer. You should be able to narrow down potential employers based on #4 and an online search of businesses in your vicinity that meet your requirements.

Follow that up with browsing online Company Reviews to see what current and past employees are saying about those organisations. You may also find it helpful to consult with friends and family members for advice and recommendations. They might know someone who knows someone working in one of your shortlisted companies. Never hurts to get the word out.

It might take a while to navigate through the entire process until you find the right job and employer that will inspire and fuel your passion but don’t lose heart. As Paulo Coelho says, “And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”

Ready to find a career path that fulfils your purpose? Then #LetsGetToWork ! Put yourself out there by updating your JobStreet profile. Finally, for more expert tips and advice on finding your dream career, visit our Career Resources Hub.