Choosing a career with a positive social impact

11 Nov 2021

More and more people are focused on finding careers that will have a positive impact on their world. Indeed, the desire to find a job that has a social impact is an increasingly strong motivational factor when it comes to your chosen career, and there are opportunities across all sectors and all kinds of roles. Yet, perhaps the hardest part is determining how to make it happen. A good place to start on a career path that bears a social impact is deciding what social issue you’re passionate about. Once you’ve made that decision, you’ll be better-placed to select a career in that particular area.

Social issues

Here are just a handful of social issues you might be interested in pursuing:

•    Climate change
•    Poverty
•    Healthcare
•    Gender inequality
•    Racism/bullying
•    Education
•    Animal rights
•    Debt

Of course, these are just a few of many social issues you could get involved in. For some, one will jump out immediately, whereas others may take longer to make a choice. It’s a good idea to focus on your interests, what captivates you in the news for example, which charities do you donate to most, or where are you volunteering. This can steer you in the right direction in terms of a social issue you’d like to work to improve. Then you can get started on finding your career path best suited to your requirements. Take climate change as an example. There’s a vast range of careers involved with this issue such as sustainability consultant, geoscientist or climatologist, amongst many others. Also, away from science-based roles, you may want to be a media reporter focusing on the climate crisis, or choose politics and fight for climate change legislation. The options are endless. The important thing is to concentrate on your purpose and look for roles that will bring you a sense of fulfilment and belonging.