08/01/2024

Ikigai: A Framework for Helping New Career Seekers Identify Their Purpose

By Meg Franko

Many young people today want more from their work than just a paycheck (Mawhinney & Betts, 2019.). They want a greater sense of purpose. Members of the Generation Z workforce who are just beginning their careers often express more purpose-focused expectations as compared to other generations (De Witte, 2024).

In the Japanese culture, there is a concept that focuses on this need for purpose. Called ikigai (pronounced ee-key-guy), this concept refers to the purpose for being or meaning of life. Researcher Dan Buettner has identified ikigai as a key ingredient to longevity around the world (Buettner, 2009) and a recent large-scale study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association reported that having a strong sense of purpose in life was even associated with lower rates of death (Alimujiang et al., 2019). Ikigai can also be an excellent framework for guiding new career seekers to find purpose-driven work (Harrison, 2020).

^{Figure 1. Ikigai framework}

Using the ikigai framework (Figure 1), career professionals can guide new workers to identify:

• What they love
• What they are good at
• What the world needs
• What they can get paid for
• Where these four concepts overlap.

Where those four circles overlap, is ikigai, or purpose. Chan (2022) provided an overview of ikigai in her Career Convergence article “Discover one’s ikigai when considering retirement and other career transitions.” According to a Deloitte article on Gen Z, “While salary is the most important factor in deciding on a job, Generation Z values salary less than every other generation.” (Mawhinney & Betts, 2019, para. 6). They go on to share that this new generation of employees is looking to work for employers that are “good global citizens.”

For career professionals looking to guide new workers in their career search, it will be more important than ever to focus on these two driving forces: what the world needs and what a worker can get paid for. Together, these will help career seekers find their vocation or calling; that activity they feel compelled to be a part of.

What the World Needs

There are multiple ways to understand what the world needs, from reviewing employer demand for personnel to identifying pressing social or environmental issues or assessing gaps in services or products on the market. It is helpful to start by identifying the career seeker’s perspective. When they hear the question “what does the world need,” what comes to mind first? Do they think of large global issues or something much closer to home? Do they approach the question as an entrepreneur or as an employee?

The career professional may consider using websites to support the career seeker’s research into this question. The United Nations’ 17 Goals (https://sdgs.un.org/goals) is a good place for career seekers to start if they are not sure or want to learn more about specific areas of interest. The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics (https://www.bls.gov/audience/jobseekers.htm) is also a resource for new career entrants to explore career trends and includes the ability to sort by fastest growing industries.

For those who want to work in the public or non-profit sectors, career professionals can become familiar with local and national non-profit job boards and public employment application processes. Nationally, Idealist.org provides listings for non-profit jobs that can be searched by location, remote preferences, job function, issue areas, education and experience levels, and organization type. State nonprofit associations also often host regional job boards.

Some people want to work in the government sector, but find that state and federal application processes can be complex to navigate. Introducing career seekers to these systems can help to reduce anxiety and overwhelm. USAJOBS is the official federal website for government jobs and provides a 10-step summary of applying for open positions. At the state and local level, many employers use governmentjobs.com for their postings. The site is also a resource for career seekers with informational articles and the ability to apply to multiple jobs with one profile.

What You Can Get Paid For

The career seeker can find a sense of purpose when getting paid for working on something they believe the world needs. It is difficult for workers to sustain a career in which they cannot make a living wage or where they feel undervalued. Career seekers will vary in terms of what they want or need to be paid for a purpose-driven career, so it is vital to work with them upfront to understand compensation expectations that may drive their career path. Career professionals can play a role in helping them to weigh the importance of pay relative to the sense of purpose. O*NET Online (https://www.onetonline.org/) offers a one-stop-shop for exploring careers and includes information on wages that can be searched by state or local level. O*NET Online also provides information about the growth potential of identified careers to help career seekers understand the long-term earning potential of various options. Research indicates that Gen Z and Millennial workers prioritize organizations that value their wellbeing (O’Boyle, 2021). Additional conversations with the career seeker could explore compensation beyond salary, such as time off for volunteering their services or wellness activities.

Framework for the Future

Using the ikigai framework can be a powerful tool for career professionals to support new Gen Z workers. It provides a way to tap into deeply held values around making a difference and receiving a comprehensive compensation package. Career professionals who take time to explore the framework’s elements with new career seekers will support them to truly understand their own needs and desires so they can embark on meaningful career paths that provide a genuine sense of purpose.

References

Alimujiang A., Wiensch A., Boss J., Fleischer, N. L., Mondul, A. M., McLean, K., Mukherjee, B., Pearce, C. L. (2019). Association between life purpose and mortality among us adults older than 50 years. JAMA Network Open, 2(5):e194270. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.4270

Buettner, D. (2009). How to live to be 100+. TED. Archived from the original on 2019-05-06. Retrieved on 5-28-2024.

Chan, J. (2022). Discover one’s ikigai when considering retirement and other career transitions. Career Convergence. National Career Development Association. https://www.ncda.org/aws/NCDA/pt/sd/news_article/441289/_self/CC_layout_details/false

De Witte, M. (2024, February 14). 8 ways Gen Z will change the workforce. Stanford Report. https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2024/02/8-things-expect-gen-z-coworker

Harrison, C. (2020). Ikigai: how to choose your career path and discover your strengths. Muze Publishing.

Mawhinney, T., & Betts, K. (2019, August 30). Understanding Generation Z in the workplace. Deloitte United States. https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/pages/consumer-business/articles/understanding-generation-z-in-the-workplace.html

O’Boyle, E. (2021, March 30). 4 things Gen Z and Millennials expect from their workplace. Gallup. https://www.gallup.com/workplace/336275/things-gen-millennials-expect-workplace.aspx

Meg Franko, Ph.D., is a career coach based in Denver, Colorado. During her career, she has been driven by a sense of purpose to make a positive difference in the world. She has worked in government, non-profit, and education settings on issues ranging from air quality to child care policy, leading amazing teams of talented professionals. Career coaching is her second (or third!) act, where she is honored to help clients design their own purpose-driven paths. Meg can be reached at meg@megfranko.com.