Want to make an impact with your career? Read this expert advice

Do you dream of arriving at work each day knowing you’re making a difference?

It may sound twee, but LinkedIn research shows one of the top two factors in choosing a new role is whether it aligns with your personal values.

So how do you get a job that makes you feel like you’re making a difference? It’s a question we put to the honorees of this year’s Top Voices: Social Impact list.

Carly Findlay: "Always bring others with you — look for the leaders in your networks, recommend them for opportunities."

Ross Wetherbee: "I am a big believer that you don't necessarily need a big career plan, but you do need principles to help guide you along the way. I've always made it a priority to network and connect people to each other.

"I've also almost always said 'yes' to opportunity, when it is in line with my own career principles and values. It sounds cliched, but make sure that you do something that you're passionate about — it makes the bad days brighter, and the good ones pretty damn brilliant!"

Doug Taylor: "Stay focused on people and their needs and aspirations. Everything else is simply the means or a distraction. Can you be sure you are making a difference in a way that's meaningful for people you are aiming to support?"

Bapon Fakhruddin: "Whether we are engineers or have other profession, we all need to think about ways to create a positive impact in our society, environment and economy. I personally enjoy working for our vulnerable communities and helping them become more resilient."

Alec Tang: "Stick to your values and what spurs your passion. It's really easy to see past people who aren't truly enthused by their topic, and conversely it's really easy to engage and put together useful content to share if you're excited and enthused by it."

Want more? The inaugural LinkedIn Top Voices in Social Impact list highlights 15 thought leaders across Australia and New Zealand whose work is dedicated to improving the lives of others.

LinkedIn is offering free access to learning paths for in-demand jobs. Here’s the learning path to become a financial analyst, including this course on strategic planning.

We’ll share a free LinkedIn Learning course each week. Be sure to sign up. 

Would a sign-on bonus entice you to accept a role? New research suggests more than six in 10 employers are offering sign-on bonuses to attract new staff. Take a look.

Get a job or go to university? If you could get a job straight out of school, would you still choose to go to university? One education expert thinks there is a change afoot. Take a look.