How Working Professionals Can Build A Fulfilling Career In The Social Sector – News18

Last Updated:April 10, 2025, 14:38 IST

Know how working professionals are shifting from corporate careers to the social sector for purpose, impact, and long-term fulfilment.

For many working professionals, success is traditionally defined by promotions, pay rises, and climbing the corporate ladder. It’s a familiar routine—wake up, commute, work a 9-to-6 job, and return home. Five days a week are dedicated to deadlines, meetings, and deliverables. The weekends bring a well-earned break—time for friends, family, and personal hobbies. Life seems well-balanced. But in the quiet moments, a question lingers: Am I doing something beyond my own success? Am I contributing to something larger than just myself?

The corporate world offers financial security, structured career growth, and prestige, but for some, there may not be a sense of fulfilment. Long hours, high stress, and a results-driven environment can leave individuals searching for meaning beyond profits and goals.

A career in the social sector allows one to address real-world issues, contribute to social change, and see the direct impact of one’s work. Many professionals feel greater satisfaction in working on areas such as education, healthcare, rural development, gender equality, environmental sustainability, etc., rather than just meeting business goals year after year.

For those contemplating a career transition, several entry points can make the shift smoother and more structured:

Social Sector Fellowships

Several organisations offer fellowships tailored for working professionals looking to make a meaningful shift into the social sector. These programmes offer immersive, hands-on experience in grassroots development, insight into policy implementation, and opportunities to work closely with NGOs, government agencies, or social enterprises. One such opportunity is the SBI Youth for India Fellowship.

Sanjay Prakash, MD & CEO of SBI Foundation, said, “The SBI Youth for India Fellowship is a strategic pathway for working professionals to transition from the corporate world to the development sector. Over a 13-month immersive journey, fellows get the opportunity to apply their skill and knowledge to tackle critical challenges ranging from food security, rural livelihoods, alternate energy, technology, women’s empowerment, and environmental sustainability. The Fellowship provides robust mentorship, networking opportunities, and partnerships with NGOs dedicated to sustainable development.”

This blend of practical experience and strategic insight fosters lasting change at the grassroots level while cultivating leadership qualities that empower professionals to drive change with resilience, purpose, and a deep understanding of development challenges. Additionally, fellows gain access to a global network of SBI Youth for India alumni, opening doors to invaluable collaborations, insights, and lifelong connections in the development sector. If you are driven by a desire to make a meaningful impact, consider leveraging your expertise to transform communities.

Social Entrepreneurship

For those who want to build solutions from the ground up, starting a social enterprise is an option. Social entrepreneurs create sustainable business models that address issues like access to education, healthcare, and livelihood opportunities.

Siddharth Daga, Founder of NeoMotion and a Shark Tank India participant, talks about his Youth for India Fellowship journey that led him to shift his career to the social sector, saying, “Transitioning from a field engineer to a social entrepreneur through the help of the SBI Youth for India Fellowship was a defining experience. Working in rural India helped me understand real-world challenges and the need for innovative assistive technology. This journey shaped my vision for NeoMotion, where we empower individuals with mobility solutions that enhance independence and dignity.”

Shuvajit, the Founder of ImpactOnus, also shared his experience, stating, “Back in 2011, while searching for work that mattered to me, I came across the SBI Youth for India Fellowship. For the first time, I truly could empathise with others whose lives were different from mine. This shaped my perspective on social change and has guided my career ever since. Now, in the third year of my entrepreneurial venture, ImpactOnus, I apply these values to develop smart and creative learning and skilling solutions for NGOs, foundations, and corporations.”

Unlike conventional careers, which are often measured by pay hikes and promotions, a career in the social sector is about making a long-term difference. Every effort—whether it is to ensure quality education for underprivileged children, improve rural healthcare, or address climate change—contributes to a larger goal.

NGOs and Non-profits

Many professionals transition by taking up roles in established NGOs or non-profit organisations. Positions in programme management, fundraising, communications, and research allow individuals to leverage their corporate skills while contributing to a larger cause.

Anvi Mehta, a former journalist who left her well-settled job at a leading media house and began her journey in the social sector.

“As a journalist, I wrote about social issues but felt my words lacked impact. Seeking deeper change, I joined the Youth for India Fellowship, spending 13 months in a remote village. It taught me patience, perseverance, and empathy. Now, in development communications, I balance earning a living with my passion for meaningful storytelling,” Avni shared.

In India, where social challenges remain vast, working professionals stepping into the social sector are not just choosing new careers—they are shaping a more inclusive and equitable future. Their work not only benefits marginalised communities but also offers them a sense of fulfilment and a deeper connection to the people and causes they serve. It is time that working professionals seek out areas that offer fulfilment and consider making a pivot to spaces where they can make a meaningful contribution—the social sector can certainly be one such area.