thomas
Do you feel like you are helping your community by doing your work?
#career prosthodontists
2 answers
Kellee Scott
Kellee’s Answer
Hi Thomas! Thank you for a great question.
While we may have different definitions of "community", the key is impacting at least one area of your life where you feel you can make a difference. For me, what I learn in my work role enables me to help the community outside of work. My passion is sharing the knowledge and expertise about education and career paths, especially to students in underserved/low-income communities where counseling is overburdened or in many cases, non-existent. I often give free advice to children of family friends, and to non-profit organizations when requested by folks in my social & business network. I've been told by parents that their child can't get in to see a counselor, or there are no counselors at their school, or the counselor just doesn't care because they are underpaid and overburdened.
On the job, I am the person who fights for that applicant that may not be as strong as others because they have a story of overcoming many obstacles to get where they are. For example: 1. having to work to help the family while in high school and/or undergraduate college, which took away from studies, 2. coming from a dysfunctional home life, possibly foster care 3. From a low-resourced school district with little or no access to tutoring or college prep, so they had to do everything on their own with no help. this includes having parents who are not college educated (making them a 1st generation college student), who can't help them navigate the process. I could go on, but I hope you get the picture. The wealthy applicant may have gone to an exclusive, costly private school, has access to expensive but effective private tutors and counselors, doesn't have to work, so can focus on grades and extracurricular activities that make them attractive to college... etc.
So I'll end with this: A big way of impacting your community is finding where the gaps are, and if you have the skills to fill them, FILL THEM! :-)
I hope this helps you.
Kellee
Alice de Saint-Pierre
Alice’s Answer
Very good question.
Indeed most of us would like to have a job that enables us to make a difference. This depends on the role or industry you work in.
If serving your community is not directly connected to the job or industry you are interested in pursuing, it is always good to know that most companies (especially the large ones) encourage their employees to give back to the community. This can be by allowing employees to take some paid time to volunteer for any charity, team volunteering activities, monthly clothes or hygiene products collection, inciting you to financially donate (the company would top-up the amount you give) or inviting key speakers from charities to raise awareness.
There are so many ways to get involved to help your community while at work.