What is Stopping You From Finding Meaningful Work?

By Amy Mazur - Career Counselor, Jewish Vocational Service

What is preventing you from finding work that would be engaging, satisfying and fulfilling? Why is it so hard for some individuals to figure out what to do, while others seem to take to their careers like fish to water? Depending on who you are and your work and personal experiences, there can be many reasons that finding meaningful work continues to elude you. Below are some reasons that continue to crop up for individuals. Do any of the categories below fit for you? If so, read on to see how you might break out of a pattern that has kept you from achieving your career goals.

Obstacles – Real or Perceived

Some of the reasons that individuals are not able to find meaningful work go beyond what is within their scope to address. If these reasons prevail, one can consider seeking support from a counseling professional who can assist with uncovering obstacles that are preventing the career planning process from moving forward. Sometimes, the reason may be a lack of career maturity and the individual may need more work and life experience. And sometimes, the reason may be that the individual may just need to do some additional exploration of themselves and the world of work.

Beliefs About Your Future

Some individuals approach the career planning process with a fundamental belief that they do not deserve to have a satisfying career, or that they are not worthy of work that is gratifying for them. These folks have been hearing messages throughout their lives that have them believing less of themselves than is truly possible. That keeps them stuck in a pattern of beliefs making it hard to find satisfaction in their work lives. These individuals may also believe that they do not have the ability to shape their own career choices. It is up to someone else, to the economy, or to some external factor to make things happen. They are merely a bystander, having no power to control future career choices.

When you consider your own beliefs about the future and how you feel about controlling your career choices, where do you fall on the broad continuum of internal vs. external control?

Shifting Mindset

Real barriers do exist in the world of work, and individuals need to temper their career planning with realism and practical concerns. Another barrier is added when one has difficulty believing that possibilities exist outside of what has actually been experienced.

Are you using your imagination? When was the last time you envisioned something for yourself outside of what currently exists? What happens when you daydream? When you allow yourself to think of the possible and do not let current realities influence you, what emerges?

Lack of Information

Another reason that individuals may have difficulty finding meaningful work is that they have had limited exposure to work options in the real world. Graduating from high school or college and moving into a job that was available but not necessarily desirable can make it difficult to feel energized to learn about other options. If this is what is available, why should I bother looking? Or if the individual is mismatched in a particular environment, it may be hard to believe that there is another environment that is better suited to meet their needs. Disillusionment with the working world can limit momentum and severely hamper the belief that better possibilities exist.

Do you feel you have been limited by your experiences, or have been a round peg in a square hole? How does that help or hinder your desire to look for something more satisfying?

Not all the reasons that prevent an individual from finding meaningful work have been described here, and career assessments do exist to evaluate an individual’s “career readiness”. But it is important to remember that learning about yourself and what you bring to your career, along with how that can be successfully matched with what exists in the world, can be one of the most exciting and energizing experiences anyone can undertake. With support and persistence, you too can be swimming in that stream of career satisfaction!

Amy Mazur is a Career Counselor in Jewish Vocational Service's Career Moves program in Newton . Amy is a career development specialist and national board certified counselor. She earned her BA from the University of Michigan and holds a Master of Education and Consulting Psychology from Harvard University . Amy has years of experience and is committed to helping individuals find their vocational path by tapping into their strengths and passions. Jewish Vocational Service, a non-sectarian agency has over 65 years' experience helping job-seekers in greater Boston to find jobs and build careers. Career Moves staff work with hundreds of professional job seekers each year and offers top quality job search and career counseling services at an affordable price. To learn more about Career Moves at JVS visit us at www.jvsjobs.org or call 617-451-8147