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How to find a job that aligns with your purpose

By 13/11/2020August 25th, 2021I Don't Know What I Want To Do
What should I do

Two weeks ago, I shared how to find your purpose, and I specifically dug into your passions – how to connect your passion to your job. 

If you missed it, make sure you read I’m stuck. What’s my purpose?  

Today, I want to talk about what to do once you find your purpose (or mission). 

Once you figure out the purpose part, how can you find a job that better aligns with that purpose? This is the answer to your question, “What should I do next?”

I know this is really important to many of you, so I’m going to take you through a simple step-by-step process to get you started. 

Let’s dig in…

What are you curious about? Give yourself permission to explore.

If you have your purpose or mission statement, you’ve likely done a lot of work to get there. You’ve worked on your strengths, your interests, your values and you’ve put all of that together to help you come up with a mission. 

Honestly if you’ve gotten this far, you’re ahead than most leaders. 👏 Give yourself some major props. 

That being said, I know you really want to figure out the WHAT – what your next opportunity looks like. 

To figure out your next steps, start with what you have. 

For example, as you explored your interests in the last post, did any potential job roles or industries come to mind? 

Or, is there anything you’ve been curious about but you’ve never given yourself permission to explore? 

This is your opportunity to dream big and think outside of the box a little. 

If you’re tempted to listen to that voice in your head that’s saying, “But transitioning to that career will be really hard,” or, “I can’t do that,” or “I’ll have to take a pay cut,” – stop. 

Remind yourself this is just an opportunity to explore. And if you don’t give yourself the space to explore what you’re curious about, you may miss out on something wonderful. 

So start by making a “curiosity list.”

And don’t worry if it seems unrealistic right now.

Identify your knowledge gaps

After you have your list, you may be thinking – Ok, now what? What do I do with all of these options? 

I want you to now journal on all the questions you have about the opportunities above. 

This could include:

  • How does someone go about finding this job role?
  • Does this job role align with my strengths and values?
  • What skills are required?
  • What would someone with my experience need to do to get this type of opportunity?
  • Where can I get this information?

So often I see clients getting stuck here. 

You have a lack of clarity on what to do next and instead of leaning into the problem, you either avoid it all together or you bury yourself in the easier (busy) work. 

This list of questions doesn’t have to be perfect; instead, it’s an opportunity for you to get clear on what you need to know.

“Get out of the building”

I learned the concept of “getting out of the building” while studying design thinking

It’s the idea that the best way to build a product your customer needs and values is to get out there and to speak with them rather than to sit inside planning. 

I love this concept because as someone who went to business school and learned a lot of theory about business, it wasn’t until I actually launched a business and put myself out there that I really understood what it took. 

The same applies to identifying your career path. I know many of you spend time on LinkedIn and Indeed searching for jobs hoping that you’ll see something that feels right. 

And you may find interesting opportunities that way. 

But really the best way to align your purpose with your job is to get out there and to share your mission with others and to fill in your knowledge gaps – to get information on what you don’t know.

If you have to make a big career pivot, the only way you’ll learn what that entails is through conversations and connections. And you’ll simultaneously network with others who may help you land your next opportunity. 

If this is challenging to do, I understand. I see clients getting stuck here all the time because it requires putting yourself out there before you’re ready. 

Networking is uncomfortable as it is, never mind asking for guidance when you’re unclear on your path. 

But that’s the point. It’s ok to share what you don’t know. You don’t need to have it all figured out. The fact that you’re out there looking to bring your mission into the world is admirable and again – more than most leaders have done.  

Lastly, this whole process can be so much easier when you surround yourself with a community of like-minded people, and when you have a safe space to share your struggles. I always recommend tapping into a trusted community that aligns with your values versus cold networking. Here’s a list of communities that I recommend.

In Conclusion: Finding a Job that Aligns with Your Purpose

This is just the start. Identifying your next opportunity should include a series of tests and a process of asking and answering questions.

You have to put yourself out there and get uncomfortable. You have to show you’re a novice in some areas and that requires you to be vulnerable.

But you can do it. This is why constant mindset work is important.

I’ll share more about managing the fear that comes up soon.

Now I’d love to hear from you. What’s one insight you’re taking from this article? What’s one action you can commit to that will speed up your job search? Share in the comments.

Work Bigger Team

Author Work Bigger Team

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