Evaluating Your Core Work Principles

Discovering Your Career Values

When considering a new job or career path, your career values play a crucial role in guiding your decisions. Also known as "work values," these beliefs shape what you find important in your work and what gives it meaning. In essence, your career values are the driving force behind your professional journey, helping you choose a job that aligns with what matters most to you.

Defining Your Job Expectations

People have varying desires when it comes to their jobs. Some prioritize prestige, while others value creativity or flexibility. Earning potential, job advancement opportunities, and interpersonal connections are additional factors that individuals may consider when evaluating career options. It's important to note that values differ from person to person, making it essential to understand your unique set of values to make informed job decisions.

Job Fulfillment and Values Alignment

According to some career theorists, the degree to which a job aligns with your values should be a key consideration when evaluating career choices. When your work resonates with your values, it can feel more meaningful, motivating you to excel in your role. While considering personality traits, interests, and abilities along with values is recommended by many career experts, focusing on values can significantly impact your career satisfaction.

Identifying Your Core Values

One approach to identifying your career values is to rate a list of examples based on their importance to you. You can then select the top values that hold the most significance when exploring career opportunities. Categorizing these values into sections like who, what, where, and workload can provide further clarity. Whether using a numerical ranking or a categorical approach, the goal is to gain a clear understanding of what matters most to you personally.

Utilize resources like CareerOneStop's Work Values Matcher to discover careers that align with your unique values.

List of Career Values

Values encompass a wide range of qualities and opportunities that contribute to emotional and intellectual fulfillment in your work. While some values enhance your job satisfaction and growth, others focus on creating a conducive work environment. Whether it's seeking adventure, autonomy, collaboration, or job security, understanding and prioritizing your values can guide your career decisions.

Explore the list of possible career values to gain insights into what matters most to you in your work and life:

Adventure

Autonomy

Avoiding stress

Building things

Camaraderie

Casual work environment

Challenge

Changing the world

Collaborating with others

Competition

Creating new things

... (continued)

Key Insights

Understanding your work values is crucial for making informed career decisions and aligning your job choices with what truly matters to you. By engaging in exercises to determine your values and recognizing that your values are unique to you, you can navigate your career path with clarity and confidence.