Career Values: How to Find Jobs That Line Up

In the 2019 SurveyMonkey Workplace Happiness Index, participants were asked what factors affected their overall happiness at work. The survey revealed that 35 percent of respondents reported that the number one factor was feeling that their work was meaningful. The rest of the respondents reported that being paid well, having control over how they did their work, having opportunities to advance and having colleagues who valued their work also contributed to their happiness at work.

All of these factors are considered career values and every employee has several that are important to them. Finding a job that fulfills these career values is one of the most important steps on a career path. If a position fits an employee's values, they may work harder, be happier and even advance faster. Use the lists below to identify your most important career values and find a job that aligns with them.

How to Identify Your Career Values

Most employees have a set of values that they live by every day. Those values help them find a job that is a good fit and give them a passion for their career. During the hunt for a new position, evaluating career values is crucial. Before you submit your application, ask yourself these questions:

1. What do you miss most about your last job?
2. What is your favorite part of the workday?
3. How would you describe the perfect workday?
4. What work responsibilities do you get excited about?

After you've answered these questions, go through the lists of values below and write down five that are most important to you. Do these five match up with your answers above? Once you know what your core career values are, you can make decisions that will support them.

In NOVA's values-driven work assessment, they divide core career values into four sections, intrinsic, work environment, work content and work relationship. Use the following lists to discover different types of career values:

Intrinsic Career Values

These values are intangible motivators that make individuals love their careers. It can be difficult to predict if a company rewards achievement or encourages independence before you accept the job. Make sure to ask questions in your interview and read reviews on Glassdoor to develop an understanding of the company culture. Here are some of the top intrinsic values:

• Achievement
• Contribution
• Commitment
• Balance
• Belonging
• Community Involvement
• Environmental Awareness
• Equality
• Honesty
• Independence
• Influence
• Integrity
• Power
• Respect
• Responsibility
• Self-Respect
• Spirituality
• Status

Work Environment Career Values

Work environment values include specific qualities that make employees happy to come to work  and allow them to perform at their highest potential. These values differ from person to person, so make sure that you ask questions about the specific values you care about in your interview. Some of the common environment career values are:

• Aesthetically Pleasing
• Autonomy
• Benefits
• Comfortable Income
• Excitement
• Fast-Paced
• Flexible
• High Earnings
• Learning
• Location
• Personal Safety
• Predictable
• Quiet
• Relaxed
• Security
• Sense Of Community
• Structure
• Time Freedom
  

Work Content Career Values

Similar to intrinsic values, work content values are the elements of a job that are energizing and exciting. Work content specifically has to do with the work that an employee does in their position. Many job postings will include some of these in the description so you can have a good idea of them even before you apply. Some of these career values are: 

• Adventuresome
• Advocacy
• Analytical
• Challenging
• Conceptualizing
• Creative
• Detailed
• Decision-Making
• Helping
• Initiating
• Leading-Edge
• Organizing
• Physical
• Public Contact
• Problem-Solving
• Research
• Risk-Taking
• Variety

Work Relationship Career Values

This final category of values describes the type of relationships that are important to employees in the workplace. These can be between coworkers, managers and even clients. Even if an employee is passionate about their job and happy with their workload, if they don't feel that they are supported or trusted, the job can be deeply unsatisfying. Some other examples of work relationship career values are:

• Caring 
• Competition
• Cooperation
• Diversity
• Friendships
• Fun
• Harmony
• Individualism
• Leadership
• Loyalty
• Management
• Open Communication
• Recognition
• Support
• Team Work
• Trust
  

Questions to Ask During an Interview

Once you know what your primary career values are, make sure every company you apply for supports them to some extent. To find general company values, visit their website, read annual reports and browse through social media accounts. These resources will give you a broad picture of what the company cares about and how they treat their employees. For more specific values, read through employee reviews on Glassdoor, visit their booth at a career fair and ask questions during an interview. For some ideas for asking about values during an interview, use these examples:

• Which core values does the company do well? Which do they struggle with? 
• What volunteer opportunities do employees have?
• Do you offer donation matching?
• Are there any sustainability efforts being practiced in the office?
• What are some key things that make you proud of this company?
• Are there any flexible work arrangements?
• What is the procedure for giving and receiving feedback? 
• What types of professional development opportunities are offered here?
• What is the procedure for giving and receiving feedback? 
• How does management support their teams?

Whether you are seeking a job that is mentally challenging, has a casual dress code or employs a friendly team, understanding your career values can help you find a job that is a good fit for you. Before you submit your resume to a new position, make sure you have a working knowledge of their core values so that you are prepared to ask specific questions. This will ensure that you get on a career path that will not only be professionally rewarding but will fulfill every area of your life.

Sources:

CNBC | SurveyMonkey, Ben & Jerry's, Glossier, Patagonia, Love Your Career