Looking for Meaning at Work? How to Find a Job That Doesn’t Suck

For centuries, few people made real choices about their working lives. Due to financial circumstances, location, and/or parental expectations, most followed well-worn paths. Then the internet came along to provide a window onto the world and democratize education through e-learning, language apps, coding courses, and more.

Corporations jumped in here too, of course, posting open position notices on job boards. This widened the playing field significantly, both for job seekers and those with roles to fill.  

However, a lot of these jobs still sucked. As the late David Graeber wrote in his book Bullshit Jobs: A Theory(Opens in a new window): “Hell is a collection of individuals who are spending the bulk of their time working on a task they don’t like and are not especially good at.”

Graeber also wrote that “a human being unable to have a meaningful impact on the world ceases to exist.” Consulting firm McKinsey concurs. “When employees find their work to be meaningful, their performance improves by 33%, they are 75% more committed to their organization, and are 49% less likely to leave,” it said in a 2021 report(Opens in a new window).

Not that this is a surprise to anyone, but it’s good to have stats to back it up. So if you’re in a job that sucks, and in search of one that provides meaning, here’s how to get started. 

Identifying Purpose 

(Credit: Malte Mueller)

First you have to identify what “meaning” means to you. Overwhelmed with the world’s issues and not sure where to focus your considerable talents? Perhaps start with the United Nations 17 Goals for Sustainable Development(Opens in a new window) and see which area speaks to you, then search for start-ups via Crunchbase(Opens in a new window) that are pursuing tech-based solutions to fix them.  

Are you a US veteran? Team Rubicon pairs retired Armed Forces personnel with first responders to get boots on the ground in disaster zones. Want to get involved in technology solutions within humanitarian work? Check out the IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference(Opens in a new window) (PCMag was there in 2017 interviewing the Japanese Red Cross).

Many of the planet’s problems have featured in Google.org(Opens in a new window)’s social impact challenges. Check out the winners from the past decade to find companies that are proposing solutions.

80,000 Hours

(Credit: 80,000 Hours)

Another good resource is 80,000 Hours(Opens in a new window) (approximately the number of hours in a working life). This nonprofit was started a decade ago by a group of Oxford University researchers who worked out which global problems are most pressing(Opens in a new window), and matched them to new high-impact career paths(Opens in a new window) that attempt to solve them. 

For example, let’s imagine you’re interested in artificial intelligence and want to make sure it’s used for the good of humanity, as opposed to its eventual destruction(Opens in a new window). 80,000 hours has taken this subject and continues to update it as new research becomes available (essentially a primer on the latest thinking around risks from AI), with definitions, links to courses on machine learning, and in-demand type roles(Opens in a new window) within the field. Check out open roles on its job board(Opens in a new window).

Perhaps you’d like to talk to someone eminently qualified in your field of choice, or want advice on sources of funding to pay for graduate study in this area. 80,000 Hours has an application form(Opens in a new window) where you can request a 1:1 call with an expert. Unlike almost every other career counseling on offer, this is free, thanks to altruistically minded donors(Opens in a new window).

Before You Apply

(Credit: Getty Images/TarikVision)

Let’s say you find a job in AI you like. Before you apply, make sure your resume is Applicant Tracking System (ATS) compliant as an AI is going to read it before a human does.

Make it simple for a scanning system to extract data. This means no fancy formatting (cut the columns; definitely no tables) and pick robot-readable fonts (Times New Roman, Helvetica). Comb the job description for keywords and ensure they’re all mirrored in your resume. Essentially, the AI needs to know you’re a “fit” before passing it (metaphorically) to the hiring manager’s inbox.

Remember to examine your digital history when doing applications for a job with purpose. Anything you once wrote, re-posted, or shot a YouTube video about that doesn’t fit with your current position on the subject—delete it. For example, if seeking jobs in electric vehicle start-ups, you don’t want an old Facebook post or tweet featuring that gas guzzler you drove at college to come back and haunt you.

Check the Drama Quotient

(Credit: Glassdoor)

The reason a lot of jobs suck is that there are crazy bosses in the C-Suite and overbearing middle managers ready to make your life hell. This isn’t hard information to source, but it’s remarkable the amount of people who don’t do their research. One can’t complain that a job is unbearable if the evidence was always out there in plain sight. 

Once you’ve identified companies that appear to provide meaning and purpose, check out Glassdoor(Opens in a new window) to see what other people have to say about your would-be employer. Scroll down through the first few, as those are often planted by HR managers. If you can’t be bothered to sign up, use an incognito browser to gain at least nominal access. 

Questions to Ask

Aside from difficult bosses, another contributing factor to less-than-optimum job satisfaction is a disconnect between the company’s website and the reality once inside. This can be avoided by clear and direct questioning in the interview process, asking if they have a comprehensive employee handbook (and whether you’ll get a copy of it on day one—if not, run).  

Here’s where browsing TikTok can pay off due to the rise of “work influencers” like @CorporateNatalie(Opens in a new window). She produces videos on the day-to-day grind and has some good advice for job seekers on questions to ask potential employers (benefits, WFH/hybrid policy, transportation assistance) and suggests a careful scroll through the organization’s social media accounts to ensure their outlook matches your own. 

As an aside, once you’re inside the door, check out her video on Top 5 Tips(Opens in a new window) for new recruits on how to shine in week one.

Set Alerts

(Credit: BuiltIn)

Rather than browsing job sites regularly, set up alerts on jobs and organizations that appeal to you, so when companies aligned with your values post a job description, you’ll know instantly. For instance, go to the BuiltIn job board(Opens in a new window), input keywords, then scroll down and enter your email to get alerts. You can do the same for Dice.com(Opens in a new window) and most other websites.

You should also set up a profile on Wellfound(Opens in a new window) (formerly Angel.list’s talent site). To be more strategic about finding jobs within specific companies, select the jobs tab on their LinkedIn company page, and click Create job alert. 

Hackathons

Job seeking with purpose is often about being in the right place at the right time (with the right skills). Getting on the radar of potential employers, who are involved in meaningful work isn’t easy, but hackathons are a useful networking tool. Especially those that are self-selecting by bringing coders together to solve problems, like healthcare, climate change, transit problems, inclusive tech, and local challenges. 

When I covered Samsung’s hackathon in Silicon Valley, and DARPA’s Hackfest at NASA Ames, HR personnel were on hand to talk to the winning teams at both events. It was an invaluable exposure to top brass for everyone there. 

Before You Quit

Have you found something that provides meaning and purpose? Did you ace the first-round interview, and are now pumped to head to HQ for the next stage? If you’re currently employed at a job that sucks, read up on how to quit your job before you say goodbye.