Job Change Service 'doda' Conducts Survey on 'Calling' (Tenshoku)

Survey Summary

Approximately 40% of professionals feel they have encountered their "calling."

Interpretations of what constitutes a calling are diverse, with "job satisfaction" (26.9%) and "being myself" (21.1%) leading the responses.

By job function, those in creative fields are more likely to define a calling based on "passion" and "aptitude."

The top five conditions for a job to be considered a calling are: "like/interest," "leveraging strengths/aptitude," "low stress," "satisfactory income," and "good interpersonal relationships."

While "like/interest" is the top factor for most job functions, those in technical roles (IT/telecommunications) and finance professionals prioritize "leveraging strengths/aptitude."

Survey Details

Persol Career's job change service "doda" (Editor-in-Chief: Takashi Sakurai) conducted a survey on "callings" in February 2026, targeting 5,154 professionals aged 22 to 59.

When asked if they have ever thought, "This might be my calling," 41.2% responded either "yes" or "somewhat." While more than half have not explicitly felt their job was a calling, they continue to work, indicating that finding a calling is not a universal experience.

The most common definition of a "calling" was "a job I want to continue because I like it (job satisfaction)," cited by 26.9%, followed by "a job where I can be myself (consistency with values/personality)" at 21.1%.

In terms of conditions by job function, "leveraging strengths/aptitude" ranked first for IT/telecommunications and finance professionals. In contrast, those in retail and service sectors tend to prioritize "low stress" and "good interpersonal relationships," highlighting the disparity in professional values across different fields.

Survey Overview - Survey Name: Survey on "Callings" - Method: Internet survey - Period: February 4, 2026 – February 10, 2026 - Target: Full-time employees aged 22-59 - Respondents: 5,154