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Is For-Purpose for me? A guide for newbies

Sarah Firth

Whether you’re a graduate looking for your first role or a mid-career pivoter, the For-Purpose sector in New Zealand has a draw for those that want to make an impact with their work and live their values. 

The For-Purpose world is its own eco-system and it’s very different to the corporate world. As the hub for For-Purpose jobs in Aotearoa, Do Good Jobs has put together our guide for newbies. 

What is the For-Purpose sector anyway?

The For-Purpose sector is more than just Not-For-Profits and Charities these days, there are so many organisations out there doing great work and making an impact. Here’s a rundown of the different types of organisations in the space.

Not-For-Profits and Charities

A Not-For-Profit (NFP) is a legal entity organised and operated for a collective, public or social benefit. For purpose, not profit. 

A charity is an organisation set up to provide help and raise money for those in need. Charities often have trusts associated with them. Charitable organisations are also one type of not-for-profit organisation.

Social Enterprises

A social enterprise is a business with a clear social mission or purpose that generates revenue to advance that cause.

  • A social enterprise we love is: Ākina 

B-Corps

B-Corps are companies that voluntarily meet the highest standards for social and environmental performance. They go through a rigorous certification process, completing a comprehensive assessment of their company’s impacts on all stakeholders, and having their assessment verified.

Parts of the public sector 

Many public sector roles are For-Purpose and involve working with communities, the environment or policy that benefits the future of Aotearoa. This can include councils, central government organisations like ministries and crown entities and educational institutions such as universities.

We think that it is important to note that there is no single agreed term that fully describes the nonprofit sector in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Many different terms are used in the sector and they can overlap and are sometimes used interchangeably. You can check out how Do Good Jobs decides which jobs to list here. 

Why do people work in the For-Purpose Sector?

“I talk to so many people who work in the for-profit, corporate world, and after doing this work for a number of years they start to feel demotivated in their roles. I particularly notice this in people in their late 20’s to mid 30s who realise they have another 30+ years of work ahead of them. By this stage, they’ve often also refined their personal values more, and have figured out through trial and error their strengths and what they do and don’t like doing at work. Often they find the organisations they work for don’t align with their values - which are often profit focused, and at the expensive of people or planet.  

We spend approximately 80,000 hours of our life working, and many people want to use this time to do something that makes a difference in the world.  For many, choosing to work at a for-purpose organisation helps them feel like they are able to give back and make a valuable contribution that does good”

- Julia Capon, Do Good Jobs Founder

What are some common careers or areas of work in the sector:

The kind of roles available in the sector are extremely diverse, with everything from finance and law roles to creative roles. Some of the most common areas to work in are;

  • Fundraising/Grant writing

  • Community Development

  • Policy 

  • Project Coordination 

  • Volunteer Management

  • Programme Management

  • Social Work

  • Communications 

  • Campaigns 

  • Ecology/Conservation

  • Research 

  • Philanthropy

  • Leadership 

What is my salary likely to be:

Salaries will vary by organisation, type of role, and the structure of the organisation. One of the best things about Do Good Jobs is that we have salary transparency, so you can see all the salary information on our job listings. A good browse of our current jobs should help you get an idea of the salaries offered in the sector.

Is it right for me?

Ultimately you will be the best judge of what is right for you. Do Good Jobs is a great place to explore the for-purpose community and our content will help you get a feel for what working in the sector is like. As well as this, below are some signs you could be a purpose-led person…

  • You’re unsure of what you want to do career-wise, but you know you want to do something that helps people or the planet

  • You’ve been involved in a lot of causes and activism in the past

  • You believe in corporate social responsibility 

  • If you’re not working on something you’re passionate about you disconnect or feel frustrated

  • When you think about career fulfilment, salary is not top of the list for you (but it can and should be on the list!) 

Some questions to ask yourself before a move

  • What is your personality type? What does the career section say? What drives your career motivation? Certain personality types are drawn to for-purpose work. We recommend doing your Myers Briggs personality test and reading the career section of your personality profile. It mentions being driven by ethics and values, helping people or a community focus- it’s a signal you are meant for purpose-led work.

  • What size organisation suits your style, a huge government agency or a small NFP? Some for-purpose organisations are tiny charities and some rank among the largest organisations in Aotearoa. Knowing your fit is key.

  • What lived experience are you taking into your career? It’s awesome to align with causes you are passionate about, but your lived experience can make working in certain areas stressful or traumatic. Reflect on the lived experience you are bringing, and any work you may find hard to handle.

  • What is your why?  This is the most important thing to ask yourself in your career, and knowing your why can help you achieve happiness and fulfilment in your career, faster. We recommend Simon Sinek’s book and talks to help you discover your why. 

Influencers you can follow:

Connection and community are so important in the For-Purpose world, so start building yours now. Use LinkedIn to stay connected to thought leaders and important voices in the sector. If you need some inspiration, here are some ideas to get you started:

If you’ve decided that a For-Purpose career IS for you, welcome! You've got an exciting career of passion, impact and great colleagues ahead. Join the Do Good Jobs job seekers community here to keep up with the latest jobs, and for-purpose world-specific updates.