Define What a Meaningful Job Means to You

To build a career that you love—not just enjoy—figure out what matters most to you. Think through a day or week at work. What made you most happy? What was most frustrating?

Come up with a few hypotheses about what is most meaningful to you: I want a job where I create something that people can use every day. I want a job with enough flexibility so I can pick up my kids from school. I want a job where I’m directly interacting with people in need.

Test your hypotheses. Convince your manager to let you work remotely for a month, take on a new assignment that involves new skills, or sign up for a cross-company initiative.

Look outside your company too. Join industry groups, go to conferences, or volunteer. Find people who are doing what you think you want to do and ask them questions.

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