• Question: Lots of people choose their jobs/ career because they want to make a difference, e.g. with cancer, but do you actually make one once you have got to where you want to be and depending on your answer why or why not?

    Asked by IzzyW to taylorannesingletary, Paul S, Neil B, katebelson, Karen E, Jack McKinlay, Izzy, aureliabrzezowska on 30 Apr 2025.
    • Photo: Kate Belson

      Kate Belson answered on 30 Apr 2025:

      It depends on the job, where you are, and how much effort you put in. Generally, companies won’t ask you to do anything that doesn’t make a difference to the company, because there’s no point in paying you to do that! If you have a specific goal in mind and choose a company that works towards that, I’m sure you’ll be able to help make a difference.

    • Photo: Jack McKinlay

      Jack McKinlay answered on 30 Apr 2025:

      It can be easier or harder to know whether you’ve made a difference depending on the job. Some jobs can have fairly quick signs, such as seeing someone learn something new, or being able to help someone who needs support. Other jobs can take a very long time – some research for example doesn’t become widely used until long after the scientist who did the research is dead. If there’s a cause you know you want to contribute to, find out the sort of things people do to help with it, and give it your best effort. It might not solve everything, but even small steps forwards are making a difference.

    • Photo: Aurelia Brzezowska

      Aurelia Brzezowska answered on 5 May 2025:

      It truly depends on not only what career you choose but also which company you end up working in and industry. You could be a cyber expert that works for the NHS and prevents hackers from stealing extremely sensitive personal information, or you could be cybersecurity expert at a window company! Think about what it is that you want to get into and the sort of company you want to make an impact in. While being a cyber expert at a window company might not sound as “impressive” you can still make a huge impact by protecting thousands of customers and their personal details.

    • Photo: Neil Barnby

      Neil Barnby answered on 18 Jun 2025:

      My last two jobs have definitely made a difference. Like other say it does depend on your choice of job and who you work for. Both mine have come under the Ministry of Justice. The first working in prisons teaching prisoners coding. I saw people turn their lives around and get jobs in the digital industry, turning away from crime. That not only makes a difference to them and their families but also means less victims of crime in the general public, so yes, I could see a difference made there. My current job has had teams build algorithms that help the Police catch criminals and I can see successes there, even some in the news, so again it makes a difference.
      Making a difference is important to me, so I tend to choose positions that allow me to also see that difference.

    • Photo: Karen Edwards

      Karen Edwards answered on 30 Jun 2025:

      I generally feel like I do make a difference but, sadly, not always. Working for the Environment Agency, I analyse and assess the potential for discharges to the marine environment to cause harm. If we can’t be completely sure that a discharge won’t cause harm, we can require mitigation or compensation. But, science isn’t always black or white so it isn’t always completely clear what the best course of action is.

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