Challenges of the World and Meaningful Career
The activity focuses on helping individuals define meaningful career ideas connected to both their personal values and global challenges. First, participants reflect on issues in the world that concern them, envision an ideal world where these problems are solved, and then brainstorm actionable ways they can contribute to solving them. The approach emphasizes practical, achievable steps for change, considering the individual’s strengths, skills, and social networks, while maintaining a constructive and optimistic discussion environment.
Inspiration for the tool
Workshop by Helena Koštálová (the question, what bothers you, makes you angry in the world) “Green” career counselling: Labour market
Rationale: Why is this needed?
To maintain motivation and engagement (not just for people from generations currently entering the job market), it’s important that their work activity gives them a sense of purpose. However, they often struggle to articulate what brings them meaningfulness. Thinking about world problems that affect them can help. Work that has meaning often contributes to improving the lives of other people and society as a whole. Seeking a meaningful career leads to a better and more fulfilling life for individuals and at the same time contributes to building a more prosperous and responsible society.
Objectives
By the end of the session, the participant will:
- define a meaningful career linked to the needs of the participant and the world
- define skills that will help the participants contribute to solving problems of the world
- define specific goals and steps the participant will take to contribute to solving problems of the world.
- create a shared vision for a better world
Resources needed
- Papers, pens
- Cards/pictures/objects to make a collage (in case of group activity)
- Activities
Activities
Many clients express a desire to find meaningful work at the beginning of or during career counselling. However, they often struggle to define what “meaningful” actually means for them. In some cases, they express it only in vague terms (e.g. “helping people”). One way to deepen this reflection is to explore the world’s problems that matter to them and identify how they might contribute to solving them through their career.
This activity supports clients or students in clarifying their sense of meaning by connecting it with global or local issues—ecological or social—and imagining their role in making a difference.
Step 1 – Setting the context
The facilitator explains that the goal of the activity is to explore a meaningful career path by reflecting on world challenges and opportunities to contribute to sustainability. The focus is not only on ecological issues but also on broader social topics, depending on what matters most to each participant.
Step 2 – Personal reflection and discussion
Participants answer the following questions independently and then discuss them with the facilitator or in a group:
- What do you think works well in today’s world? What are you grateful for?
(Clients can think on any level: the world, their country, their region, or their community.) - Which problems in today’s world make you feel angry, upset, or uneasy?
- What kind of world would you like for the next generation—your children, your family, or future generations?
- What do you miss in today’s world? What do you think there is too much of?
Participants are invited to write down their answers as specifically as possible—not just naming problems, but describing their causes and effects.
Examples:
Topic: Social inequality
Manifestation: Job ads focusing on “young dynamic teams”
Consequences: Discrimination against older job seekers; inequality in labour market access based on age, gender, race, etc.
Topic: Greenwashing
Manifestation: A company promotes itself as environmentally responsible, but in practice prioritizes cost-cutting over sustainability
Consequences: Employees feel disconnected or pressured to act against their values (e.g. producing waste, misleading clients, overuse of resources)
Step 3 – Optional: Naming the challenge
Participants choose one issue that is particularly meaningful to them, give it a short name (2–3 words), and describe its impacts in a short and clear way.
The facilitator ensures the discussion stays constructive, avoiding excessive pessimism or climate anxiety.
Step 4 – Optional: Imagine an ideal future
Participants imagine what the world would look like if this problem were solved—setting aside current limitations like money, politics, or social constraints. They can write a short description or story about what a day in that ideal world would look like.
In group versions of the activity, these stories can be shared and illustrated collectively, for example by creating a collage in person or online.
Step 5 – From reflection to action
Participants reflect on how they could contribute to addressing the selected problem in their personal or professional life. This could be through a new project, greening a current activity, or joining an initiative.
They are encouraged to identify small, realistic steps rather than radical changes.
The facilitator can help reduce pressure by highlighting the power of collective action and asking:
Who else could help? What group, organisation, or movement is already working on this issue?
In group settings, participants can also use natural objects to create a silent collective installation, reinforcing the sense of shared responsibility and potential for collective impact.
Examples:
- Problem: Excessive printing at work
Action: Identify which documents need to be printed and which can be archived digitally - Problem: Career guidance rarely addresses ecological issues
Action: A career development professional chooses to introduce the topic of green jobs into their sessions
Step 6 – Identify strengths and resources
Participants list the skills, strengths, experiences, or networks they can use to contribute to solving the selected problem.
Example:
A person with strong organisational skills and attention to detail designs a digital folder system to reduce printing, then presents it to their manager.
Step 7 – Define a goal and action plan
Participants formulate a concrete objective in this area:
What do they want to achieve, by when, and with what intended impact?
They can then break this goal into smaller steps and build an action plan.
Example:
Goal: Within 12 months, reduce company printing by 50% by introducing a new document management system.
Steps:
- Talk with colleagues who support the idea and build momentum
- Draft a basic proposal for the archiving system, identifying obstacles and possible objections
- Present the idea to the team manager
- Pilot the system in their department
- If successful, present the results and propose expansion to higher management
Reflections/Consolidation of learning
Reflection and sharing of answers to the questions:
- What did this activity bring you?
- How do you now see the connection between world problems and your career?
- What did you realize? What connected with what for you?
- What would you still need to explore?