We often speak of finding our "dream job," "the right match," "the perfect fit," "the right career move." And some of us know when a job "just feels right." But how many of us can truly say we feel called to do the work we do?
That question crossed my mind when I stumbled across a career advice website called VocationVillage.com. Run by psycholgist Janet Civitelli, the site offers what it calls "career advice for creating a life that you love."
It's quite clear that Dr. Civitelli aims to give the job seeker something deeper than a job suited to their talents and skills - her choice of the word "vocation" signals that up front. The word has its origins in religion, where it meant - and still means - "a divine call to God's service." Even in its more secular sense - outside "vocational school," that is - the term signifies something deeper than just a means to make use of one's talents and skills to earn a living. A vocation, in this sense, is work that fills one's soul as well as one's wallet. "It's work with purpose, work with meaning, work that aligns with one's values," she said in an e-mail conversation with me.
Determining one's vocation, and whether a job fulfills it, is a highly personal journey. "The same job can feel like a meaningless paycheck to one person and an extremely significant vocation to another," she said, and offered the following example:
"In Sonya Lyubomirsky's wonderful book, 'The How of Happiness,' she talks about janitors working in hospitals. These janitors were studied and there were some of them that viewed their work as extremely significant because they felt that a clean environment protects patients and contributes to good medical outcomes. The janitors felt invested in their work and in the patients' welfare. I would say they viewed their work as vocation."
Any job, then, can be a job or a vocation, depending on what the worker is seeking. Improving people's lives through the provision of useful products or services, for instance, can carry with it as much inner meaning as protecting patients and helping them get well by keeping their environment clean. The difference is this: People who hold jobs often have to work; people who have found their vocations want to work.
Getting from the first state to the last requires a journey within oneself. "I think it is sad and a shame when people spend years of their lives feeling stress and pain about not finding their vocation," Dr. Civitelli said. "It would be better to find ways to serve the world and trust that clarity will emerge over time."
If business is your calling, BusinessWorkForce.com is the place to pursue it.
By: Sandy Smith
Sandy Smith is an award-winning writer and editor who has spent most of his career in public relations and corporate communications. His work has appeared in The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Philadelphia CityPaper, PGN, and a number of Web sites. Philly-area residents may also recognize him as "MarketStEl" of discussion-board fame. He has been a part of the great reserve army of freelance writers since January 2009 and is actively seeking opportunities wherever they may lie.
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