How to get a job at an impact startup

Looking for a more meaningful job? Here's a guide on how to find (and more importantly, land) a role at a company that’s making real change.

Rachel Loosley

January 10, 2023

📚 Guides

Looking for a more meaningful job?

With 62% of millennials wanting to work for a company that makes a positive impact, you’re not alone in your search.

But once you’ve found your dream role, how do you seal the deal?

We've put together a guide on how to find (and more importantly, land) a role at a company that’s making real change.

Here are 5 tips to landing a job at an impact startup

Before we dive in, it’s important to remember that ANYONE can use their job to make a positive impact on the planet. Whether you’re a sustainability officer, an engineer or a marketing manager, there’s an impactful role for everyone.

1. Pick your impact areas

Think about what you care about most.

Is it fighting climate change? Democratising the finance industry? Advocating for policy changes?

Whatever you’re passionate about, there’s a Job For Good that aligns with those values. If you’re unsure, check out our guide to the different impact areas for some inspo.

It’s important to choose wisely, as research from our Confido teammates shows that strong value alignment is the number one thing that impact founders look for when hiring. Check out the video to hear Sanjay Lobo MBE, Founder of onHand, explain why it is so key.

2. Do your research

Once you know which impact area (or areas) you want to focus on, it’s time to dig a bit deeper. Firstly, make a list of the companies in those impact areas you would love to work with.

Once you have your list, we recommend looking at:

What stage those companies are and how big the team is

Does it seem like they’ll be looking to grow their team soon?
Would you be happy working in a team of that size?
Is there a gap in their team that you could fill? (There’s no harm in sending a speculative application!)

Where the company is based

Do they offer remote or flexible working?
If not, would you be prepared to commute if needed?
Does their setup fit into your way of working?

What the company culture is like

Take a scroll through their social channels – what is their employer branding like? Have they posted about the team?
Does it seem like a company you could see yourself at?

3. Start your search

Once you’ve done some snooping, start your search! As well as keeping an eye on the companies on your list, keep looking for roles at similar organisations.

On Jobs For Good you can filter your search by impact area, as well as by job title and location, so it’s easier than ever to find a meaningful role.

Our impact areas include:

🌪 Climate crisis jobs

🤑 Ethical Capital / Finance jobs

✏️ Fair Education jobs

🥕 Food, Agriculture & Water jobs

‍🧘 Health & Wellbeing jobs

🚲 Green Transport jobs

🐋 Marine & Land Conservation jobs

📢 Policy & Advocacy jobs

☀️ Renewable Energy jobs

♻️ Responsible Consumption & Production jobs

💛 Social Impact jobs

Think there’s another impact area we should include? Let us know – we'd love to hear from you! Drop us a note, here.

You can also sign-up for weekly updates so you get the freshest roles straight to your inbox.

4. Always be upskilling

While you’re searching, keep building your skills.

The startup space is exploding with impact startups, and startups value people with a broad set of skills. Being in a smaller team means mucking in and jumping on projects that you might not necessarily have worked on before. So, focus on developing your skills and flexible ways of working.

But what about if you’re looking to make a drastic career change? Say, if you want to move from the corporate world to a charity, as an example.

While you’ll still have many transferable skills to bring to the table, try to find some volunteering experience to show your dedication. It’ll also be a good taster for you, to make sure it is the right move for you.

‍

5. Nail your application

You’ve found the perfect role, great! Now it’s time to nail that application.

The key things to remember are to...

Show your passion! Bring it all back to that value alignment
Prove that you’ve done your research on the company and sector
Demonstrate an understanding of, and interest in, startup life
Tailor your CV to that exact company and role (personalisation is key!)
Go the extra mile and do something to stand out, whether that’s making a video, creating a presentation or mock-up – to show what a great fit you are