What does it mean to have a meaningful career? For many of us, working a rewarding, inspiring job that allows us to make a difference is central to our happiness and sense of fulfillment. For others, our day jobs are simply a means to an end, a way to pay the bills, a daily grind to get through before the freedom of the weekend.
If you’re someone who would prefer to feel rewarded, satisfied, and inspired by the work you’re doing, stay with us. In this article, we’ll cover what it means to have a meaningful job, the benefits, and some of the most meaningful careers where you can make a real difference.
What is a meaningful career?
Enjoying a meaningful, rewarding, and purposeful career can not only bring us a sense of fulfillment in our lives but also, a great deal of joy and satisfaction. But what exactly is a meaningful career, and how do we know if we have one?
The elements that make up a meaningful career can be broken down into 3 parts;
Feeling Rewarded and Recognized
Feeling rewarded in our work is a central aspect of having a career that feels meaningful. This doesn’t just refer to receiving accolades such as ‘Employee of the Month’ at a company-wide awards night, however. Feeling rewarded is also an inside job.
For this to happen, we must take a moment to self-reflect on all the things we’ve done right in our workday and give ourselves praise for our wins. These wins could be something as simple as ticking off a particularly urgent task on our to-do list, or finally sending that email we were dreading. For many workers, journaling our achievements at the end of each day can help give us much-needed perspective, as well as the ability to acknowledge and recognize our hard work.
Job Satisfaction and Fulfilment
Having a job that feels meaningful is also linked to our level of job satisfaction. Satisfaction in our jobs relates to how fulfilled we feel within our professional roles. When we feel fulfilled by our jobs, this usually means we are doing work that aligns with our values. Work that is important to us, and that makes us feel we are achieving things that matter.
Making a Difference
Working a job that allows us the opportunity to contribute to society, and to make a difference in the lives of others, is another element of having a meaningful career.
If our career is important to us – as it is to many people – we want to feel like what we’re doing matters, and that we are making an impact.
Meaningful careers that make a difference
When aiming for a meaningful career that makes a difference, these are just some examples of impactful professional pathways we can choose from;
Registered Nurse (RN)
For a registered nurse, no day is ever the same. Yes, nurses must put in the hard yards – the work certainly isn’t easy. But in caring for and treating their patients, nurses have the chance to make a real difference in the lives of those they touch, which can be exceptionally rewarding.
Teacher
What could be more inspiring than educating the young minds of upcoming generations? For teachers, the reward is just that: making an impact on the way their students think, learn, and interact with the world.
School counselor
As a qualified school counselor who has completed industry-recognized studies such as a Masters in School Counseling online, you have a real opportunity to make a meaningful difference.
Helping students navigate their educational pathways and social lives is incredibly important work. By working closely with students in need, school counselors are able to see the tangible ways their efforts contribute to student well-being.
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A meaningful career isn’t just about going through the motions – unlike for those of us who dread going to work each day, and for whom the mundane daily grind is simply an obstacle to get through on the way to our weekends.
On the other hand, having a meaningful career can provide us with a great deal of satisfaction and fulfillment, as well as enable us to make a real difference in the lives of others.
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