Purpose-driven careers - where to look, how to land one
If you need help figuring out what purpose-driven work looks like for you, any of these five tips for finding a meaningful career may help.
If you’re clear about how and for whom you’re keen to make a difference, start ‘looking for people, not jobs.’
Three tips for finding your fit in the purpose-driven universe
Get off Google. Head out into the real world in search of interesting, like-minded humans working in the community and environmental sectors. See below for some places you might find people.
Show don’t tell. You’re talking to people who want to change the world. Share your vision and show your ‘difference-making’ cred. Done some ground-breaking work? Have an innovative idea or ten for enhancing your target organisation’s performance? Spell it out.
Show your ‘shoes off ‘self. You’re targeting organisations that (mostly) see and support their staff as well-rounded humans. Besides sharing why you’re wild about working with them, talk about what inspires you outside of work.
Places to find your kind of ’do good’ people
Purpose-driven organisations come in all shapes and sizes. Once you understand the differences between NFPs, NGOs, Charites, and Social Enterprises, start searching in any of these places.
Certified B Corporations
B Corp is a global initiative to certify businesses whose operations consistently balance profit and purpose.
Certified B Corps are regularly reassessed to ensure they maintain high environmental and social performance standards and transparent and accountable business practices.
Check out Australian and New Zealand B Corps
Try these 29 tips for landing a B Corp job from the UK-based career change community Escape the City.
Job boards and recruiters
Ethical Jobs
This Australian Social Enterprise helps over 6,000 Australian charities, not-for-profit organisations, and social enterprises employ skilled, dedicated ‘difference makers.’ Besides being a job board, Ethical Jobs has tips on finding and transitioning into work that makes a positive impact such as:
Five great environmental jobs and how to get them
Five jobs in human rights and how to get them
NGO Recruitment
This specialist agency recruits for not-for-profit organisations in Australia and across the Asian Pacific region. Here’s a snapshot of NGO Recruitment’s range of roles and sectors. You can submit your resume and be notified of roles that may match your skills and interests.
Beaumont People
An award-winning recruitment agency focused on community contribution.
You can download their ‘meaningful work tool’ in exchange for your email, and they run workshops and networking events.
Heart Recruitment
This agency specialises in marketing, communication, and fundraising roles in small and medium businesses and not-for-profit organisations in Sydney and Brisbane.
People for Purpose
This agency works ‘with individuals, for-purpose organisations, social enterprises and corporates to maximise their social impact’ through education and recruitment.
PCDN
A global resource for people to ‘change the world whilst making a living’ including a jobs board, event listings and resources.
And then there’s….
This gem of a resource and podcast - 80,000 hours
That’s the number of hours (give or take) you’ll spend at work. If you’re keen to spend a chunk of them helping solve some of the world’s wicked problems, lend these guys your ears. This not-for-profit organisation researches and supports ways to move into purpose-driven careers.
This clever podcast ‘unpacking the sticky art of doing good’.
Look out for Fellowships, courses, Meetup groups and events where you can learn more about the space. Here are just a few (let me know if you find any more I can add to this list!):
Amani Institute online courses
Graduate Certificate in Social Impact
Monthly sustainability drinks in Sydney
Workshops with Good For The Hood
Look up local co-working spaces as they often hold events.
These 10 online places to connect with like-minded humans.
While there’s no substitute for getting out from behind your desk and connecting with actual humans, the Internet can also put you in touch with groups and causes that match your values.
These 3 ways to ensure that ‘no experience’ never means ‘no chance.’
Top tips for getting your head in the right place, getting ‘experience,’ and pitching yourself differently.
This success story about how Maddie went from managing events to making a difference for the environment.
Need help refining your search for meaningful work? Book a chat.
By Jo Green, Career Change Coach
I know that when you find what you love, heart and soul, your life changes. I work every day with people who are reshaping their current careers, starting new enterprises or searching for a new direction. Basically I help people who don’t like their job to figure out what to do instead!
As a Careershifters and Firework Advanced Certified Coach and experienced career changer myself, I can help you figure out what fulfilling work looks like for you.
Drop me a note to organise a free 20 minute consultation to chat about your career change and how coaching could help.
