5 tips for finding a meaningful job

Have you ever wondered why you get up every morning? If the answer is yes, you may be looking for meaning in your work. And for good reason: current societal and environmental upheavals are naturally pushing us to question our relationship with work. Resigning or retraining can then become interesting options for finding a job that aligns with your values. But where to start? Our advice for taking the plunge with complete peace of mind.

1. Define your values ​​to find the job that suits you

Inherited from your upbringing, your culture, and/or your personal history, values ​​are the major principles that guide your steps and build your identity. They act as a filter to help you make the decision most aligned with you. But sometimes, we ignore our values, whether consciously or unconsciously. Having a deep understanding of them allows you to take action to (finally) give meaning to your life.

But how do you know what you want and what’s important to you? To do this, ask yourself the following questions and take the time to answer them:

• What makes me happy, motivated, or inspired?
• What do I love doing so much that time flies?
• What makes me get up in the morning with enthusiasm?
• What experiences have been most meaningful to me and why?
• Who are the people or characters I respect the most and why?
• In the past, what choices have I made that reflect my values?

Once this introspection is complete, you should be able to identify several personal values and these may be in complete contradiction with your current lifestyle. Resistance to change is natural. Don’t be afraid. You are now ready to take the necessary steps to be in harmony with yourself.

2. Ask yourself if you can (re)give meaning to your current job

It’s not always necessary to quit your job to initiate changes, big or small. If you’re currently employed, you’ll need to ask yourself a few questions before taking any action:

• Am I proud to work for my employer?
• Do I feel useful in my daily work?
• Am I aligned with my manager’s or employer’s vision? If not, are they open to discussion and willing to evolve?
• Does my job require me to compromise my values?
• Are my working relationships fulfilling? Is my work recognized within my company?

Once you have answered these questions, ask yourself what you would like to change:

• The nature of your missions: this involves modifying the way you carry out your tasks (frequency, procedures used, etc.) or assigning yourself new ones if you think you have the technical and behavioral skills (soft skills).
• Your perception of your job  : it’s about giving meaning to your tasks by becoming aware of their usefulness: what will be the final impact of the task I’m doing today for society, the business, my colleagues, my clients, etc.?
• The quality of your working relationships  This involves creating or recreating relationships with your colleagues or anyone who benefits from your services. Because yes, good professional relationships can make any job meaningful!

Be careful, however, not all of these changes can be made alone! If you want to change the nature of your missions, you will need to carefully analyze your position  (what is difficult for me, why and how can I remedy it?),  your strengths  (what assets could I put to good use in my company?), and last but not least,  discuss them with your manager  Yes, before taking action, it is essential to   mmunicate with your hierarchy in toplain your desires and to assert their interest, so that they are welcomed with goodwill. If these modifications do not encroach on the work of your team and what is more, bring added value to the company, there is little chance that they will refuse them.

Otherwise, it might be time to see if the grass is greener elsewhere. However, if you have a permanent contract and your current job allows you enough time to work on your project at the same time, it’s best to think twice before resigning . Indeed, the stress caused by a period of unemployment or inactivity could also slow you down in your thinking.

3. Learn about positive impact jobs to find out which one is right for you

What exactly do we mean by “positive impact jobs”? Positive impact jobs contribute to the preservation of natural resources  the strengthening of social justice a,nd/or the improvement of employee well-being either through their missions or their membership in a specific sector of activity. Among the positive impact jobs, we distinguish the following categories:

• CSR professions

CSR professions specialize in implementing policies and measures aimed at reducing the environmental impact and/or improving the societal impact of a company . These include professions such as CSR Manager, Chief Happiness Officer, and Sustainable Development Consultant.

• Green jobs

Green jobs are “professions whose purpose and skills contribute to measuring, preventing, controlling and correcting negative impacts and damage to the environment *.” We therefore find traditional jobs such as Environmental and Pollution Treatment Technicians, Forestry TechnicalAgent,st or even Water and SanitatiEngineerseer.

• Greening professions

Greening professions are “professions whose purpose is not environmental, but which integrate new “green skill building blocks ” to take into account the environmental dimension in the professional gesture in a significant and quantifiable way*.” This category therefore includes traditional professions such as Maintenance Technician, Sales Representa,tive or even Site Manager.

• Jobs in a so-called “impact” sector

Traditional jobs in a so-called “impact” sector contribute, through their expertise, to the success of a project with a positive impact. A so-called “impact” sector is an economic sector that aims to solve social or environmental problems , whether by generating profits or not (NGO, association, private or public company). Impact sectors include, among others, renewable energy, health, education, sustainable finance, etc. An example is an accountant in an NGO.

As you can see, positive impact jobs encompass a wide range of professionals, including those in so-called “traditional” professions. Your current job is therefore potentially a job with an impact!

4. Take training courses to acquire green skills

You’ve done your research on the different careers with a positive impact and now know which specialization to (re)orient yourself towards?.Perfect. Now, you may need to undertake a career change or simply broaden your current skill set particularly with green skills.

But what are “green skills”? According to a 2025 LinkedIn report, “green skills are those that ensure the environmental sustainability of economic activities .” Among these green skills, it is important to distinguish between two types of skills:

1. Green technical skills  ( hard skills ), which are essential for companies to implement their CSR policy:

• Knowing how to do a carbon footprint
• Manage waste
• Regulate energy aspects
• Know the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria…

2.  Green behavioral skills**  ( soft skills ), which are necessary to change our ways of thinking and facilitate the management of a more sustainable world:

• Supporting Equity
• Critical and exploratory thinking
• Adaptability
• Inventiveness
• Ability to solve problems and think about one’s environment in a systemic way
• Individual initiative…

To learn these skills, there are many training courses available today, most of which can be financed with your Personal Training Account (CPF) . If you are currently employed, do not hesitate to contact your training or human resources department, which may, if necessary, offer you “green” training.

5. Research the companies involved before applying

Yes, greenwashing is still a thing. Companies may claim to have values, but that doesn’t mean they always follow through on their commitments.

To find out if a company is compatible with your values ​​and desires, you will therefore need to carry out some research:

1. Check out the company’s website . Typically, each organization has a dedicated section (“Our Commitments,” “Our Values,” “Our Actions,” etc.) where it details its values ​​and commitments. Not everything should be takey, of course, but it’s a good start for assessing your fit with an organization’s culture.
2. Check online reviews. Websites like Glassdoor, Indeed, or Google will allow you to see how the company is perceived by its omployees as well as by people who have used its services or products. Don’t necessarily stop at a few bad reviews, but if you notice that the same issue comes up regularly, it’s important to take it into account.
3. Check out the company’s LinkedIn page. This professional social network is a great source of information, as companies share their actions, commitments, and certifications there. Don’t hesitate to also check out other social networks where the company is present, such as Instagram or TikTok.

In any case, take the time to dig into the companies’ narrative  Many highlight their CSR policies, but their commitments can be vague. Check whether they have obtained certifications officially attesting to their actions and whether they make their sustainable development report available to the public .This will help you distinguish a serious and proactive policy from a greenwashing discourse .