One of the most crucial objectives for anyone seeking a professional career is fulfilment. A job that makes you happy can boost your confidence, provide stability, and open up better chances. Knowing how to find career fulfilment might help you find fulfilling employment opportunities or enhance your performance and efficiency in your current position. In this post, we define career fulfilment and provide five practical suggestions for finding happiness and fulfilment in your line of work.
What Is Career Fulfilment?
Career fulfilment is a feeling that comes from working in a career that balances your interests and skills. It may result from finding a role that you enjoy and excel in, which motivates you to perform well. You may also achieve it by doing meaningful work that makes a difference to the lives of others. Working for a non-profit organisation or a company that provides public services can increase your personal fulfilment because it makes you feel good about yourself.
5 Useful Tips for Finding Career Fulfilment
Below are five helpful tips that can help you find fulfilment in your career:
1. Identify a career that aligns with your values
It is important to find a career that aligns with your personal values. Values are beliefs and ideas that you consider important in your professional and personal life. Taking some time for self-reflection can help you identify your core values. Once you identify your values, try to find a role that aligns with them. Identifying a career that aligns with your values can help you find satisfaction and fulfilment in the work you do. To help you identify the values that are most important to you, here is a broad classification of the different types of values:
- Intrinsic values: These values have intangible benefits and are inherently rewarding. Performing activities that involve these values can excite, inspire and motivate you. Some examples of intrinsic values are creativity, integrity, courage, kindness and a connection with nature.
- Extrinsic values: These values have tangible benefits. While intrinsic values do not depend on external circumstances and are second nature to a person, extrinsic values depend on rewards. They could include aspects like fame, a high salary or physical fitness.
- Lifestyle values: Lifestyle values are personal values that comprise aspects like where you want to live, your short-term and long-term life goals, whether you choose to be employed or work for yourself, your money habits and how you prefer to spend your free time.
Try to list ways your values could reflect in your ideal career. Keep your core values in mind while researching companies and applying for jobs. You could also frame questions to hiring managers and interviewers on the basis of these values to help you determine if the position is a good fit for you. Mentioning your most important work values in your resume can also help hiring managers learn more about you while screening your application.
2. Create a list of things you enjoy
If you are not able to decide on a career that gives you fulfilment, it may be useful to list the things you enjoy the most in your day-to-day life. Researching jobs that give you a chance to engage in activities you enjoy may help you identify a suitable career. A job with daily routines and enjoyable tasks can offer a sense of satisfaction and fulfilment. Here are some questions you can consider when listing the aspects of life you enjoy:
- What parts of the day do you enjoy?
- What are your favourite subjects to learn, write or talk about?
- What do you consider to be your strongest skills or traits?
- How do you like to spend your free time outside of work?
Creating this list can help you identify potential careers that you may find enjoyable. You can use it to research roles that fit your preferences and interests. Pursuing a career path that is fulfilling can have several benefits. Being happy at work keeps you highly motivated and increases your productivity.
3. Write your own personal mission statement
A great way to define who you are as a person and what is important to you is to create your own personal mission statement. A personal mission statement is a verbal or written tool that defines the who you are and what your goals and priorities are. The statement reflects your true self, why certain things are important to you and what you plan to do to fulfil your objectives. It can serve as a personal reminder about what to focus on. To write your mission statement, consider including the following three aspects:
- Your skills and interests
- Your personality traits
- Your goals and values
An example of a mission statement is, I want to use my gift of vulnerability as a writer to move and inspire other people with my words. You can use the statement to outline your personal and professional goals, find workable ways to use your skills and assign tasks to reach these goals. It is important to keep reviewing and updating your statement from time to time to ensure it aligns with your actions and objectives. You may also have more than one mission statement, with each one focusing on a specific aspect of your professional or personal life.
4. Maintain positive working relationships
Positive working relationships can help you enjoy your job more. Teams that focus on maintaining strong relationships with their peers are usually more productive, which gives each member more time to focus on self-development. To build a positive relationship with your colleagues, it is important to have mutual trust and respect. Inclusivity, consideration, open communication and self-awareness are important keys to strengthening relationships at the workplace. Working to make professional relationships mutually beneficial can take significant time, thought and effort.
Maintaining a good rapport with your professional network can also give you new insights on career opportunities. When you share your ideas on career fulfilment with individuals in your network, you may receive valuable suggestions and advice from them. Connecting with other people with similar positions and interests can help you cultivate more confidence and enable you to learn from their experiences. Some interesting ways to build your professional network and interact with your peers include:
- Connecting with like-minded professionals on social networking sites
- Hosting small meetings or events to interact with your peers
- Attending networking events to grow and expand your network
- Expressing gratitude and acknowledging peer support
- Guiding your peers and helping them grow
5. Set goals to work on each day
Career fulfilment is a major goal, and it can be challenging to attain. It is important to identify small, achievable steps to move closer to your ideal career. Creating daily objectives can help you to keep track of the ultimate goal of finding a fulfilling career by helping you to build momentum and organise your thoughts clearly. Having easily achievable daily goals can also help you to avoid procrastination.
For example, if earning a promotion may help you experience career satisfaction, setting daily goals to improve yourself and learn new skills can help you achieve this. Setting measurable objectives to achieve the overall goal of fulfilling career is an ongoing process in a professional’s life. Consider the following tips to help you while setting your goals:
- List your daily goals before you begin each day.
- Keep the list short and realistic.
- Allow time for unforeseeable situations and challenges and consider how you might overcome them.
- Decide how to track the success or progress of your goals.
- Set deadlines for each objective.