Reflections on why building a values-aligned career starts with knowing your story and trusting your path
By Cristina Salgado
Civic Reporting Fellow Jasmine Barnes interviews a source for her feature reporting project. (Akilah Townsend/ for City Bureau)
In my role as City Bureau’s Director of People and Culture, I spend a lot of time thinking about how to build a professional life that aligns with your values. I’ve supported job candidates, coached colleagues who have transitioned out of City Bureau, and helped to shape a hiring process that welcomes people who are deeply committed to their work and their communities.
Whether you're in between jobs, looking for a career change, or just feeling like your current role isn't the right fit for you, it can be overwhelming to figure out what comes next. But the process doesn’t have to be aimless or transactional. Instead, it can be an opportunity to reconnect with your values, your purpose, and your community.
I want to offer a different way to approach these moments of uncertainty with what I call an “abundance mindset,” or a belief that there is enough opportunity, wealth, and possibility to go around, and that we are worthy of it all. We attract what we think we deserve, and abundance is about shifting away from scarcity and fear toward gratitude and the understanding that we can both appreciate what we already have and still chase after more.
We’re living in a time of major and continuous transition—industries are shifting, job security feels uncertain, and more people than ever are questioning what they really want from work. These questions can be scary, but they can also be motivating. January opens a new chapter, offering a chance to reset, reflect, and choose what you want to move toward in the year ahead. This season of transition can become a season of intention for you.
I often see this firsthand when working with our Civic Reporting Fellows. Many of them are in moments of career transition, and they see the fellowship as a way to explore something new, sharpen their skills, or test out a different direction. One Fellow, for instance, was a photojournalist who wanted to learn more about investigative reporting, not because he planned to switch careers but because gaining that perspective would strengthen his own practice as a photographer. I admire Fellows’ willingness to take a leap of faith. Whether it’s adding experiences to a resume, building their network, or diving into a new field altogether, each Fellow shows that uncertainty can also be a powerful moment of growth.
Here are some of my own tips for grounding yourself, reconnecting to your purpose, and moving forward in your career search with clarity.
Know Your Story: Build Your Brand by Looking Inward
Before jumping into applications or interviews, take a moment to pause and turn inward. Ask yourself: Who are you right now? What do you stand for? What are you excited to create or contribute to the world?
Reflect on your strengths, values, ambitions, and patterns in your work history that have brought you energy. Think about:
What makes you unique?
What kind of work energizes you?
What kind of team or organization do you want to be part of?
Building your brand isn’t about creating a fake version of yourself. It’s about authenticity. It’s a way of knowing your own story so you can share it with others confidently and consistently.
I remember during a coaching session with Winter 2025 Fellows, they answered these questions at first with their job titles: “I’m a facilitator” or “I’m a community builder.” We’re often trained to think that who we are is what we do. But when we slowed down and really dug into their values and what they stood for, their stories started to come out: “I’m a child of immigrants” or “I grew up on the South Side and I want to bring resources back to my community.” Your brand is not just what you do, but who you are. It’s not just about listing roles or accomplishments; it’s about grounding your work in your experiences, values, and purpose. When Fellows started to name that deeper “why,” their narrative felt fuller and more authentic.
Share Your Story and Grow Your Network
Once you’ve had a chance to reflect on what you want out of a career, don’t keep it to yourself. Tell your story! Let people know who you are and what you care about. Relationships open doors—build them with intention.
Send everyone in your network an email to let them know that you’re looking for a job. If you don’t tell people, they won’t know how to help you. Start with your close circles of friends, family members, neighbors, mentors, or former coworkers. Ask them to send you anything connected to the main 2-3 pathways of work you’re interested in.
But don’t stop there. Post on LinkedIn, attend events, ask for introductions. You never know who might have a lead, an idea, or simply the right words of encouragement. Most opportunities come through relationships, not random job boards or cold applications. The more people who know what you’re seeking, the more support and direction you’ll receive.
A former student I mentored did exactly this. Before City Bureau, I used to work in Chicago Public Schools, and this student reached out to me for advice during her own career transition. I encouraged her to share her story widely by sending email blasts and reaching out to her networks. Because she was in the mindset of telling everyone about her job search, she even reconnected with an old acquaintance on LinkedIn. That single message turned into an informational interview, which opened the door to new connections and eventually her dream job at an organization supporting incarcerated people with resources—a cause deeply connected to her own family life. What made the difference wasn’t just that she asked for help, but that she grounded her search in her values and experiences. All of it happened because she was willing to put her story out there.
In that spirit, reach out to as many people in your network and outside of your network as possible for informational interviews with individuals/organizations doing the work you admire. Here are some questions to guide those early conversations:
How did you get into your current role?
What do you enjoy and find challenging about the work?
Is there anyone else you recommend I meet with?
This isn’t about asking for favors—it’s about being visible, authentic, and open. When you tell your story with honesty and clarity, you invite others to support, connect, and champion you.
Give Yourself Permission to Dream
In uncertain times, it can seem easier to shrink your vision, to only chase what feels “safe” or “realistic.” But now is the time to dream—not because everything is guaranteed, but because dreaming expands what’s possible.
Let go of limitations. Imagine boldly. Your vision shapes your path. Dream not only of all the things that you’re passionate about and all your lived experiences, but also allow yourself to dream of wealth and abundance.
Dreaming doesn't mean ignoring your reality. It means believing that you're allowed to want more—and to take steps toward it. It means giving yourself permission to imagine that you are worthy of security, joy, and wealth, in the many forms that it can take. When you dream beyond your current circumstance, you open yourself up to new paths and surprising connections, and expand on what is possible for you and your community.
At City Bureau, we believe that civic engagement and community connection can ground you even through the most uncertain moments in life. If you’re experiencing a career transition, big or small, our programs offer meaningful ways to deepen your involvement with your city, neighbors, and the issues you care about. You might start by attending a City Bureau Public Newsroom to connect with others and learn something new, like how to use photo collaging as a means of archiving family histories or how to start a People’s Budget event in your neighborhood. Or you can sign up for a Documenters training and get paid to help cover local government meetings. Staying curious and civically engaged through programs such as these can help to build your skills, network, confidence, and commitment to a greater cause.
Wherever you are in your search process, know this: you’re not starting from scratch. Even in a volatile job market, you’re starting from experience, from clarity, from growth. And your next step will be just the beginning of something better than you imagined.
Resources
For Connecting with Community Organizations and Staying Civically Engaged During Job Searches
Chicago Cares: Connects people with meaningful volunteer opportunities across the city.
Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership: Operates a network of American Job Centers throughout the Chicago area, offering a range of free services for job seekers, including career coaching, resume workshops, and job placement assistance.
JVS Career & Employment: Offers a variety of workshops, career counseling, and networking events designed to help individuals with their job search. They cover topics like resume writing, LinkedIn profiles, and interviewing skills.
Career Transitions Center: Provides one-on-one coaching, workshops, and networking groups to support individuals in career transition.
Institute for Policy and Civic Engagement at UIC: Hosts public forums, talks, and workshops on a wide range of policy and community issues, providing space for informed dialogue and connection with others passionate about civic life in Chicago.
Chicago Public Library Brainfuse: CPL cardholders can use this online resource for free to get personalized feedback on their resume within 24 hours from an online writing coach. It also includes resume templates and help with Microsoft Office.
Tutoring Chicago: If you’re passionate about education, you can become a volunteer tutor for students in grades 1-12. This is a great way to use your skills for good and meet new people.
Greater Chicago Food Depository: Works to fight hunger across Cook County and is always in need of volunteers to help sort and pack food.
Chicago City Council: To get plugged into local politics and issues, you can attend City Council meetings in person or stream them online. You can also find information on your alderman’s website about local town halls and community events.
Informational Interview Request Template
If you’re not sure where to begin in your job search, start with an informational interview. Here’s an example of what you might say when reaching out to people in your network:
Subject: Request for a brief conversation
Hello [Name],
I hope this message finds you well. I’m reaching out to see if you might have 30 minutes for a conversation. I’d love to learn more about you and your journey into [industry/field]. I’m currently in a transition period and exploring new pathways for myself, and your perspective would be incredibly valuable.
If you don’t have the capacity right now, I completely understand. I’m attaching my resume in case you come across any opportunities that align. I’m currently exploring roles in the following areas:
[Field or area 1]
[Field or area 2]
[Field or area 3]
Thank you so much for considering — and either way, I really appreciate the work you’re doing in [their field or organization].
Warmly,
[Your Name]
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