Finding Your Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to Work That Actually Matters
Silje Sundal
There's a Japanese concept called Ikigai (生き甲斐) — roughly translated as "a reason for being." It's the idea that fulfillment comes from finding where four essential elements of life overlap.
When I first encountered this concept, something clicked. It perfectly captures what we're trying to help job seekers achieve at ByeByeApply — not just finding any job, but finding work that actually fits who you are.
The Four Circles of Ikigai
Ikigai sits at the intersection of four questions. Each is simple on the surface, but profound when you really sit with it:
What You Love
What makes time disappear? What would you do even if no one was watching? This is about passion — the activities that energize rather than drain you.
What You're Good At
What do people consistently thank you for? What comes naturally to you that others find hard? This is about your skills and strengths — your professional superpower.
What the World Needs
What problems make you angry? What would you change if you could? This is about purpose — contributing to something larger than yourself.
What You Can Be Paid For
What do companies actually hire for? What value can you create that the market rewards? This is about viability — translating your gifts into sustainable work.
The Honest Truth About Ikigai
Here's where I want to be real with you: Perfect alignment is rare. Most of us won't find a job that scores 10/10 on all four dimensions from day one. And that's okay.
Ikigai isn't a destination — it's a compass.
Its value isn't in finding the "perfect" job. It's in helping you make better choices. When you're evaluating opportunities, use these four lenses to ask: "Is this moving me closer to alignment, or further away?"
You might take a job that pays well but lacks passion — that can be a stepping stone. You might choose purpose over pay while you're young and can afford the tradeoff. The key is making these choices consciously, with a vision of where you're headed.
Ikigai in Your Job Search
When we built ByeByeApply, we designed the matching process around these principles — even before I knew the word "Ikigai."
- •We ask about skills and strengths — what you're genuinely good at, not just job titles
- •We match you to companies, not just jobs — because culture and values matter for finding meaning
- •We encourage direct outreach — because connecting with companies that resonate beats mass applications
A Gentle Exercise
If you're in the middle of a job search — or thinking about your next move — take 10 minutes with these questions:
- 1.When was the last time you were so absorbed in work that you lost track of time? What were you doing?
- 2.What do colleagues or friends consistently ask for your help with?
- 3.What problem in the world — big or small — do you genuinely want to help solve?
- 4.Of the things you love and do well, which ones do companies actually pay for?
Don't overthink it. Write what comes to mind first. The overlaps will reveal themselves.
The Takeaway
Job searching can feel like a grind — endless applications, rejections, silence. Ikigai offers a different frame: you're not just looking for a job, you're looking for alignment.
That shift in perspective makes every conversation, every application, every outreach email feel more intentional. You're not begging for any opportunity — you're seeking the right one.
And sometimes, "the right one" is simply the next step toward your Ikigai. That's enough.
About Silje Sundal
Founder & CEO
Silje brings over 20 years of experience from leading enterprise software companies including HP, Citrix, and Workday. With deep expertise in Revenue Operations and GTM strategy, she's passionate about using AI to transform how people find work that makes them thrive.