More than any other generation, the millennial generation is looking for “meaningful” work. What they mean by that, as the New York Times has noted, is working in the service of others. Americans between the ages of 18 and 34 find meaning through giving.
But millennials often struggle to find jobs that fulfill them in this way. As NationSwell reported, the bad job market for young Americans is “a serious economic issue — and it’s not improving.” Even those who do find work are often forced to compromise, taking a job that might not serve others.
In a recent Medium post called “My Job Lacks Meaning, What Can I Do?” Peter Sims said, “The sex appeal of a job at Goldman Sachs or Wall Street has virtually vanished and shifted to Silicon Valley, entrepreneurship, and social entrepreneurship.”
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Sims co-founded an organization called Fuse Corps in response to the emergence of talented millennials who want to make a difference. Every year, the nonprofit pairs ten to 20 mid-career private sector professionals with a forward-thinking elected official. By working in government, Fuse Corps fellows can find a way to make the change that some find harder to achieve in the private sector.
So far, the program has attracted professionals from finance, journalism, law, and design. You can meet some of them in this video.
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One fellow helped San Francisco, California launch its entrepreneur-in-residence program. Another helped Richmond, Virginia, embrace civic technology and make its public data available to constituents.
Fuse Corps just opened four new San Francisco fellowships aimed at solving problems like pedestrian safety and outdated technology in schools. You can find more information on how to apply here, or share the page with anyone you’d think would be interested.