How to find a role that matches your values
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Corporate social responsibility has risen up the agenda in recent decades, but increasingly employees – and many companies – are conscious of more than targets around equity and inclusion or environmental change. Deloitte's annual survey of younger workers shows that a company's social impact
It's not only awareness that is increasing: jobs in the field of social impact have also grown. The number of social impact jobs
With the growing importance of societal impact for people when looking for their next move, we asked these Top Voices in social impact for their advice on finding a role that makes a difference and fits your values. They share their tips on working out what really matters to you, what you need from work and how to find the right fit in your career or secure the role you want.
Discover these experts' insights and join the conversation using #LinkedInTopVoices and #SocialImpact.
How did you come to found Beam?
Six years ago, I met a homeless man outside my local Tube station. Despite my well meaning gestures, the man’s situation continued to worsen. It made me realise that what he really needed were the skills, tools and support so he could get on his own two feet. Of course, this would cost a lot of money – but what if we all chipped in? That’s when the idea of crowdfunding for homeless people came about.
How can people find a role that fits their values?
One of the questions I ask people in interviews – which sounds pretty simple on the surface of it – is where their desire for creating social impact comes from. A lot of people say “I just want to do something positive”, but that doesn’t tell me anything about them or their values. Think about where your values come from and how they fuel your desire to create a positive impact. There are great platforms like “Escape the City” where you can discover impact-driven companies and see which values their employees rate most highly.
What advice do you have for people seeking a role in the social impact field?
Join the most impactful organisation
Why do you do what you do?
I founded GoodWork because I saw an opportunity to create systemic change. There are many brilliant initiatives supporting underrepresented groups into work, but until we address the systems and processes that exclude marginalised people, particularly non-graduates, we’ll never achieve equity in the workforce.
How can people find a role that fits their values?
It’s important to be honest with yourself about what you need. Working in social impact will likely result in lower pay and fewer perks, and while being in a purpose-driven role might mean higher job satisfaction, you shouldn’t compromise your personal or financial wellbeing to the point that you resent your work, or it becomes unsustainable. Not all impact-driven organisations are great places to work and even when you love your job, it’s still work. To find a role that really fits with your values, find out as much as you can about the organisation’s culture and make sure it treats its people with as much care as it does its mission.
What advice do you have for people seeking a role in the social impact field?
Remember that social impact has a very broad definition – from charities and non-profits to social enterprises, B-Corps, and VC funded startups. There is lots of opportunity to do purpose driven work, so have an open mind. The same goes for the sort of role you want to take, not everyone needs to be a youth worker to have a role positively impacting youth. Identify and build on your strengths and interests. Finally, it’s okay not to know everything.
What prompted you to work in the area you do and what do you enjoy most about your work?
My story began in Portland, Jamaica, where access to good healthcare was a privilege. Frequent battles with severe asthma and pneumonia nearly ended my story before it began. These early experiences marked the beginning of my desire to serve global communities that lack equitable access to the resources that would radically transform their lives.
How can people find a role that fits their values?
People can find roles that fit their values by understanding and then ranking the values that are most important to them. By doing that, you can create a checklist in which you can measure roles or opportunities against. Additionally, if you’re in a position where there are many things that align with your values, then the best thing to do is to try as many as possible. It’s a sure way to understand what you do and don’t like!
What advice do you have for people seeking a role in the social impact field?
The best thing to do is to connect with as many people as possible, both in person and online. It is such a dynamic space with new opportunities and perpetual innovation, so being connected allows you to learn, stay up to date with opportunities and add value. Stay curious, stay open and stay committed.
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What prompted you to do what you do?
The honest answer? A prolonged moment of crisis. I was frustrated by our collective inability to tackle an issue that has plagued society for hundreds of years. I spent 17 years in HR trying so hard not to be that Black person talking about race until l recognised it wasn't good enough for me to be an armchair critic. I had to step into the fray and transfer the knowledge, skills and experience l had built in human resources, change management and organizational design and apply it through the lens of helping leaders do something to tackle systemic racism within their organisations.
How can people find a role that fits their values?
Spend time discovering who you are and what values are non-negotiable. Some values are important but aren't deal breakers, others can fundamentally alter our psychological contract with our employer and our line manager.
Once you've identified those values, do your research. Listen to interviews of senior leaders from the companies you are interested in, follow them on social media. Be proactive in looking for proof points of whether there is alignment and misalignment. Does the external messaging match the experience of employees internally? What are you willing to compromise on? How far does it matter that you can't find any public indicators that can aid your decision-making? Therefore is the company or opportunity worth taking a risk on? These questions are key to making informed decisions.
How did you get into your area of work?
I grew up in a single parent household on a council estate in North London and balanced two jobs in McDonalds and John Lewis alongside my schoolwork after losing my father to his battle with alcoholism and drug addiction. In 2014, I became the first student ever in my school's history to achieve straight A*s at A level… [and]I left my hometown for the University of Bristol to study English. After discovering the existence of the old boys' club, a network that propels those from private schools into top jobs, at age 19 I founded The 93% Club – a members' club for state school students – to do the same.
How can people find a role that fits their values?
Some individuals have those values codified more clearly in their minds, some come to it at a later stage in their life, and most of us find our values in the same way that you find something while feeling around in the dark – you can feel that there's something there, but you can't quite put your finger on what that is. I always advise starting with a blank sheet and writing down everything that matters to you – be it family time, work life balance, a company that has a positive impact on the planet or a company that prioritises its people, prestige, salary, place of work – these are all things that form our values. By ranking them, and being honest with yourself, it makes it slightly easier to see what you're willing or unwilling to compromise on.
Another way to find a role that fits your values is to pay attention to how you're feeling when you're doing certain tasks or working with certain organisations. Does this type of work or type of industry drain your energy or does it leave you feeling energised? Ultimately, do you feel proud of the work that you do or do you find ways to avoid this kind of work? Keep a notebook with you and make a note of those feelings.
What advice do you have for people seeking a role in the social impact field?
Something that is often forgotten about and neglected is that those hiring for social impact roles will be looking for your passion and your "why" as much as they will be looking at your skill set. Try to balance the two equally – showing why your skills can be used to solve the issue at hand. A genuine understanding of the problem will make you a more compelling candidate for those who will be hiring you, and it will make you a more effective individual in your role.
Discover these experts' insights and join the conversation using #LinkedInTopVoices and #SocialImpact. What other advice would you offer?
Reported and proofread by: Siobhan Morrin and Yessi Bello Perez
Managing Editor: Siobhan Morrin
Special Projects Leads: Marie Malzac (EMEA), Michele Pierri (International)
Regional Lead: Julien Wettstein
International Executive Editor: Sandrine Chauvin
About these features
These features highlight experts who are part of LinkedIn's Top Voices program. Top Voices is an invitation-only program featuring a global group of experts on LinkedIn covering a range of topics across the professional world, helping members uncover valuable knowledge relevant to them. You can learn more here.
Who is eligible: LinkedIn members who meet high trust standards, are consistently active on the platform and share valuable expertise are eligible to be a Top Voice, with the exception of LinkedIn and Microsoft employees, members who have violated LinkedIn’s User Agreement – including our Professional Community Policies – or individuals currently running in a political election for an executive, legislative or judicial position.
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Economic Graph data: Employment data is derived from LinkedIn members’ profile updates. Job posting data is based only on paid job postings.
This campaign has been launched in collaboration with LinkedIn’s Social Impact team. Names featured may be recipients of LinkedIn’s Global Impact programme, which provides grants and resources to partners who are committed to expanding economic opportunity (find out more here). Participation in this programme does not guarantee inclusion. Our Top Voices articles are editorially curated by the LinkedIn News team focusing on knowledge sharing and insightful content.
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1y#LinkedInTopVoices and #SocialImpact Aligning Values with Your Career Your exploration of the increasing significance of corporate social responsibility, particularly for millennials and Gen Z, is not only timely but also crucial in today's ever-evolving job landscape. The statistics provided, especially the 77% increase in roles with social impact terms in job descriptions between 2021 and 2022, highlight a significant shift in job seekers and employers' priorities. The fact that entry-level job ads referencing culture and values have surged by 154% globally over the past two years underscores the growing importance of aligning personal values with career choices. This is one of the aspects I focus on during leadership and career coaching sessions with my clients. My clients tell me that when their work aligns with their values, they experience a sense of satisfaction, increased motivation and overall happiness in career. When values guide career choices, you are more likely to make decisions that align with your long-term goals and aspirations. This can lead to more strategic and thoughtful decision-making. I found your decision to seek advice from Top Voices in the field of social impact to be a brilliant move.
Director at Alvarez & Marsal
1yWe have built www.tech4goodjobs.com for anyone working in tech (software engineering, design, data, product) who wants to find all of these kinds of roles in one place.
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1yI've lost count of the number of people that I've worked with who, dissatisfied with their current employment, once they work out what their values are, suddenly realise what needs to change. It's a hugely important area of life, and great to read such a helpful article.
The Careermorphosis Coach 🦋 | Stop burnout in its tracks 💫| Company mental fitness programmes 🚀 | Career Change expert 🧭 | Multi-Qualified Life & Mindset Coach🧠 | Ex-Corporate Comms and culture pro
1yHaving a job that gives you a sense of purpose is at the basis for loving what you do. If you can connect your values with what you're doing at work, it creates an atmosphere where your well-being and happiness in what you do has the opportunity to thrive.