Stop Searching by Job Title: Use Ikigai to Find Work That Fits

A better job search starts with knowing what kind of work actually gives you energy.

Most professionals approach a job search by asking:

“What job title should I search for?”

Then they open a job board, type in a title, scroll through dozens or hundreds of listings, and start applying.

But what if the job title is the wrong place to start?

In a recent CareerCultivated conversation, Scott Raether explores a different approach:

using Ikigai to create more clarity around career direction and meaningful work.

The idea is simple:

Don't start with the job. Start with yourself.

What Is Ikigai?

Ikigai is a Japanese concept often associated with purpose and meaning. In career development, it can be used as a framework for exploring the intersection of four areas:

• What you enjoy

• What you're good at

• What the world or market needs

• What you can get paid for

  
  

The goal isn't simply to find something you love.

It's to identify where your interests, strengths, market needs, and economic reality overlap.

That intersection can provide powerful clues about your next career move.

Why Job Titles Can Limit Your Search

Job titles can be misleading.

Two companies can use the same title for completely different responsibilities.

And the work you're best suited for may not have the title you expect.

For example, someone who enjoys:

• Solving complex problems

• Coaching teammates

• Building relationships

• Improving inefficient processes

might search only for a traditional management position.

But those same strengths could translate into opportunities in consulting, operations, customer success, learning and development, project management, or other fields.

If you search only by title, you may never discover those possibilities.

Start With What Gives You Energy

One of the most important questions in Scott's video is:

What gives you energy even when the work is difficult?

Think about your current or past roles.

Was there a task you could do for hours without realizing how much time had passed?

Was there something challenging that somehow left you feeling energized instead of drained?

Maybe it was:

• Helping someone solve a problem

• Teaching or mentoring

• Creating something

• Analyzing information

• Leading a team

• Organizing complex projects

• Building relationships

• Writing or communicating

• Designing solutions

  
  

Those moments can reveal something important about your strengths and interests.

Your Resume Isn't Your Career Strategy

A résumé tells the story of where you've been.

Your career strategy should help you decide where you're going next.

That's why simply updating your résumé and applying to more jobs may not solve a career search that lacks direction.

Before rewriting your résumé, consider asking:

What kind of work do I actually want to be known for?

Once you have greater clarity, your résumé, LinkedIn profile, networking strategy, and job search can all support the same direction.

That's when your career materials become more than documents.

They become part of your positioning strategy.

Turn Career Clarity Into a Job Search Strategy

Once you identify the themes that matter to you, use them to guide your search.

1. Identify your strengths

What are you consistently good at?

Look beyond job titles and think about the problems people trust you to solve.

2. Identify your interests

What type of work makes you curious?

What topics do you naturally want to learn more about?

3. Identify market demand

What problems are organizations currently willing to pay people to solve?

Your interests matter but so does the market.

4. Identify the intersection

Where do your strengths and interests overlap with real opportunities?

That's where your search becomes more focused.

5. Position yourself around that value

Your résumé and LinkedIn profile should make that connection clear.

Instead of simply saying what you've done, show what you can help an organization accomplish.

From Random Applications to Intentional Opportunities

Career clarity changes the way you search.

Instead of:

“What jobs can I apply for?”

You begin asking:

“What problems can I solve, and where are those problems valuable?”

That's a much more powerful question.

It can help you identify better opportunities, have more meaningful networking conversations, and create a professional brand that actually reflects your strengths.

Your job search becomes less about chasing openings and more about creating alignment.

Career Growth Requires More Than Finding a Job

Meaningful career development isn't just about getting hired.

It's about finding work that makes sense for who you are, what you're good at, and where you want to go.

That's the thinking behind CareerCultivated.

The goal isn't simply to help professionals find their next opportunity.

It's to help them find opportunities that align with their strengths, interests, expertise, and long-term career direction. 

And sometimes, finding that direction requires asking better questions before searching for better jobs.

Start With One Question

Before you open another job board, take a few minutes to think about this:

What gives you energy even when the work is challenging?

Write down three things.

Then look for the patterns.

Those patterns may tell you more about your next career move than another hour of scrolling through job postings.

Your next opportunity doesn't have to start with a job title.

It can start with clarity.

🌱 Root Down. Rise Up. Grow Forward.

Watch the Original CareerCultivated Video

Scott Raether explains how Ikigai can help bring clarity to the job search and create a more intentional path toward meaningful work.

Watch on LinkedIn:

Watch Scott's LinkedIn video