If you have a meaningful job - what do you do?

[workwithmeaning]

Meaningful = something that helps someone in the community or changes the local area / environment or lives for the better somehow.

I can't keep working in Sales Admin. It's frivolous, meaningless and pointless.

I want a career change and I want to make a difference to this shit sad little world. Happy to earn NMW.

I live in Cornwall. Charity jobs here are rare and I don't want to WFH.

Local Authority here is a toxic hell hole full of suffocating red tape. Including TA roles 🤢 I am degree educated.

I faint at the sight of vomit and blood.

Any ideas?

Teaching. It's bloody hard work though! Insanely rewarding on a good day, draining on a bad day.
Might work out below NMW if you factor in marking/planning at home after work though...

Doctor

Work mainly in deprived areas of London
Love my work
Love the children and see and try my very best to help their families as much as I can

Feel very lucky and very fortunate

I teach at a specialised base for children who are not able to be included in the local authority schools as a result of past trauma. It's very hard but also very rewarding.

Mental health nurse, it’s killing me slowly. Not too much blood or vomit but definitely don’t do it!

I like the idea of a pharmacy technician role but I work with pharmacists who would say don’t do it!

Be care of jumping out of the frying pan into the fire!

I work in a visitor attraction (would’ve thought there’d be a few of those in Cornwall) and most of them have charitable aims. It’s always been very rewarding, not too badly paid and really flexible.

I used to do support work with vulnerable adults - might suit some but it just wasn't working for me.

There are plenty of meaningful jobs which don't fit your criteria!

Speech and Language Therapist. 20 years on I still love my job and I feel like I make a difference to children and their families.

Teacher.
It's v rewarding when ex students get in touch to say what they have achieved later in life.
Bloody hard work though.

I'm a teacher.

Not everyone's cup of tea but I'm a funeral arranger. Extremely rewarding being able to guide people through an extremely difficult time in their lives and give their loved ones the best possible send off.

Special needs teacher (primary, autism).

It does feel meaningful. I take in children for whom previous placements- often more than one- have broken down and I get to turn that around for them. They are a joy and I genuinely enjoy spending my days with them.

It's badly paid though.

Having done front line "people work" for ten years, if I had to do it again I'd work with animals or conservation etc .

I do public policy research. My work is primarily used by government officials and politicians when making decisions about my area of expertise.

Mental health nurse and I absolutely love it

Teacher.
I'm loosely looking to get out, and keep seeing jobs I could do but hesitate because I'm so stuck on the idea that my job has to be for the benefit of the greater good.

Special needs (autism) Preschool teacher. I absolutely love my job. The kids are aged 3-5ish and such a fun age. We do so much meaningful work with them and see great progress due to the very high ratios of teachers to children.

look for jobs with social impact. My friend works admin in financial services but her company only work with organisations that have positive social impact. Would something like that be suitable?

Social work - challenging, demanding, red tape galore but every once in a while you really think "yes, I've actually made a difference to this person's life"

Lots of areas to go into as well - most people think of children and child protection but adult social work is just as rewarding (and challenging) Opportunities to specialise in learning disabilities, mental health, drugs and alcohol etc.

I was a nurse. Now I have non nursey role on a support line for a Charity for thise affected by Terminal illness. I do wfh though. Citizens advice have offices and are often recruiting and will train people.

I know you're looking for a change OP which is totally understandable, but I would view sales as meaningful too - it contributes to the economy and provides amenity for people. Just in case you're looking for a positive spin on it :)

There are lots of admin roles in the public sector, so broadly working for the public good rather than profit. Eg council, NHS, universities, schools. If you have worked in sales you might be able to find something in marketing, or maybe fundraising for a charity.

I work for the local authority and love it - there are teams that are very challenging but my team is fab and my manager is a legend. Don’t dismiss it without exploring the options 😊

We are all in various parts of the funeral industry, all roles are very rewarding. Fist bump to @SmirnoffIceIsNice

I’m an intellectual disability support worker for past 4 years . Suffering from burnout and depression from the horrible 24 hour wrap shifts , working every bank holiday and weekend and the constant shortage of staff tbh I no longer care about the service users anymore
luckily I’ve just landed a job in a multinational pharmaceutical company , better pay and conditions and an employer of choice .
never will I work in social care again