How can I feel good about what I do?

Hi Win,

When I was in high school, and thought I should be a missionary in some far flung place. I don't think that anymore, but I think the wish to serve people in need (dire need) remains.

You are right--you can help people in many ways. Hopefully, I'll figure out how.

Ruth

Hi Ruth,
One way to think about it is where in the chain do you contribute the most value? If you do what comes naturally to you, you will be able to do more for anyone you are working for. It takes an amazing number of people with widely different talents to get a bowl of rice into the hands of a starving child. What do you do best?

Do you like developing relationships with the starving people?
Do you like cooking for the starving people?
Do you like organizing getting the food from point A to point B?
Do you like running an organization that gets food from point A to point B?
Do you want to work for an organization that teaches people how to grow food or governments how to get their people out of poverty?
For either of these organizations, do you want to run a support function for them? HR, Accounting, Operations?
Do you want to raise money for them? Organize parties for them to raise money?
Do you want to donate money to them?
Do you want to make a lot of money so you can donate more money to them?

What do you like to do? Whatever you like to do can be brought into service for what is important to you. That way you can feel good in two ways: You can be working to meet a need, to help a cause and you can be doing what you enjoy.

Win

More Press Coverage

Please click on the links below for more career tips:

From Forbes:

Ten Tips for Spring Cleaning Your Career

How To Craft A Job Search Elevator Pitch

How To Ace Your Interview

What To Reveal During Your Job Search

When They Don't Call To Offer You The Job


From Money Magazine:

Surviving a layoff

Searching from out of town

Hi Win,
Thank you for sharing your insights at the BU alumni event last night at the Princeton Club. I found your advice to be very helpful and wanted to touch base with you. I was in the audience and had a question, but didn't have a chance to ask.

Currently I live in Boston and am looking to relocate to New York City, but am finding it to be a challenge in the NY job search being a non-NY candidate. Do you have any advice in overcoming the disadvantage of being a non-local candidate? Some people have advised for me to use a NY address on my resume, but I'm not sure if I should do that. However, I know that this method has worked in some cases. I am applying to mostly positions in retail buying/apparel at an entry to mid level.

Thanks for your help.

Sincerely,
Greta


Hi Greta,
Use the fact that you are in Boston to your advantage. Hone your presentation and your positioning with experts in Boston. You will be able to say honestly that you do not want to work for them and so they will not have to hold back. It is also not hard to believe that they will have contacts in New York. Keep your Boston address!

Win