Jobs That Make a Difference in the World - Penn-Mar

Jobs That Make a Difference in the World

Posted on September 28, 2022

Most people in the world want to do something meaningful with their lives and make a difference. There are many different ways to do this, but one of the most impactful ones is through the work you do in your job or career. If the work you are doing is making a difference in the lives of others, then it will be more fulfilling and worth all of the effort you put into it. 

Workers in the United States have realized this in what has become known as “the Great Resignation,” which resulted in over 47 million Americans leaving their jobs in 2021 alone. Many of these workers stated that one of the reasons they left was that they were searching for work that was more fulfilling. This emphasizes that the work you are doing and the impact it has—on yourself, other people, and the world as a whole—is more important now than ever. In this article, we’ll highlight some of the jobs that make a difference in people’s lives.

Work Opportunities That Positively Impact Others

There are many jobs in the world that are important, but there are certain ones that stand out above the rest due to the positive role they play in people’s lives. The very nature of these jobs is to help other people so that they can live long, productive, and happy lives. Here are some of the jobs that make a difference:

Education – Some of the jobs that help to make the most difference in people’s lives are education-related. Without educators—especially early on in our lives—we wouldn’t learn, grow, and develop in the same way. We also wouldn’t have the tools and skills we need to pursue our dreams and make our own mark on the world. Educators teach us about many different subjects that all come back to one main purpose: learning how the world works. Some of the most impactful jobs in education include:

  • Preschool Teachers
  • Elementary and Middle School Teachers
  • High School Teachers
  • Special Education Teachers
  • Professors
  • Teaching Assistants
  • Researchers
  • Research Assistants

Emergency Response and Safety – Other fields of work that positively impact others are emergency response and safety. These jobs help people who are in need and can often be life-saving. Without individuals performing these roles, people would be left to deal with emergencies and other unsafe situations on their own. Having qualified workers respond to these situations ensures that they are handled as quickly and safely as possible. Some of the emergency response and safety jobs that make a difference in people’s lives include:

  • Firefighters
  • Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs)
  • Police Officers
  • Security Guards
  • Safety Directors and Coordinators
  • Disaster Recovery Manager
  • Emergency Dispatchers

Environmental – While jobs that help the environment may seem like they help our planet instead of individual people, let’s remember that we all share this world together. Things that happen in nature directly affect the lives of humans. For example, increasing natural disasters due to climate change have a direct effect on the people who live in the areas where those disasters occur, which can threaten their livelihood and their personal safety. That’s why it’s important that we have workers who are focused on protecting our environment and limiting the effect we have on it. Some of these jobs include:

  • Environmental Scientists, Specialists, Planners, and Engineers
  • Adventure Guides
  • Park Rangers
  • Biologists, Geologists, and Hydrologists
  • Atmospheric Scientists and Meteorologists
  • Conservation Scientists

Social Justice – Jobs that work toward social justice are also incredibly important to making the world a better place. These individuals commit their lives to highlighting the issues certain groups of people face in our society and working to make permanent changes to address them. Many of these job focus on helping those who need it most, and include:

  • Working at social justice nonprofit organizations
  • Community Organizers
  • Lawyers
  • Researchers
  • Policy Analysts
  • Social Workers
  • Community Developers
  • Advocates and Lobbyists
  • Grant Writers
  • Journalists

Health and Human Services – Health and Human Services is an expansive field that includes healthcare and other vital services that people need in their lives. These services help to improve the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of individuals and help them achieve a higher quality of life. Jobs in these fields focus on providing care, support, and access to the things that individuals need in their lives in order to succeed. Here are some of the jobs in this field that make a significant and meaningful difference:

  • Doctors and Surgeons
  • Registered Nurses (RNs)
  • Direct Support Professionals (DSPs)
  • Speech Pathologists
  • Psychiatrists
  • Mental Health Workers and Psychiatric Technicians
  • Community Health Workers
  • Medical Social Workers
  • Counselors
  • Occupational Therapists
  • Case Managers

If you’re looking for a job or career that will make a difference in the lives of others, then you’ve come to the right place! At Penn-Mar Human Services, our mission is to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to live courageous lives full of self-determination, independence, and equity. Our approach is innovative, person-centered, and successful. Through meaningful employment, community inclusion, and residential choice, the people Penn-Mar supports are empowered to live their best lives. 

If you’re interested in a human services career and want to make a difference in the lives of others, consider filling out an application to join our team! We offer a wide range of employee benefits and competitive compensation. You can also get involved by learning more about our services, making a donation, or signing up to volunteer with us today!

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