What are Work Values?
Your professional values represent the beliefs you hold about what is important in your work and what makes it meaningful to you. Simply put, your professional values are what guide and motivate you in your career. These values will assist you when making decisions about a potential company or job position.
What Do You Want from Your Job?
People look for different things in their jobs. Some desire prestige, while others seek creative expression. On the other hand, some are looking for flexible hours and independence.
Job Satisfaction
Some job theories suggest that the extent of job or career satisfaction we experience in accordance with our values should be the most important consideration when evaluating options. These theorists assume that work that aligns with our values will be more meaningful, and we will be more likely to invest our energies to excel in roles and achieve success. Most career experts recommend considering personality traits, interests, and abilities alongside values when making job decisions.
Identifying Your Values
One way to identify your professional values is to look at a list of examples and evaluate how important each item is to you. Rate the list on a scale from one to ten. Then, study some of the higher-rated values and select six to ten values that should weigh the most when considering jobs and alternatives.
Possible Work Values List
Some values that you want and need in your job or career may include traits and opportunities that enhance your life emotionally and intellectually. Achieving these values as part of your job or career can make you feel challenged, inspired, and fulfilled.
While some job or work values may be more related to the environment where you spend half of your waking time and the conditions under which you perform your work.
Here is a list of examples of some of these types of values:
Adventure, autonomy, avoiding stress, building things, synergy, informal work environment, challenge, changing the world, collaborating with others, competition, creating new things, creativity, diversity, employee benefits, exposure to beauty, fast-paced work, fun, helping others, high income, high level of interaction with people, income based on productivity, impacting others, intellectually demanding work, job security, location, moral/spiritual fulfillment, opportunity for advancement, opportunity for leadership, opportunity to learn new things, opportunity for creativity, physical activity, enjoyable work environment, power, prestige, recognition, risk-taking, routine work, seeing tangible results from completed work, sharing ideas or information, socializing, problem-solving, being recognized as an expert, structure, supportive management, team membership, freedom of time, travel, task variety, work-life balance, working alone, working outside the office.
You can also use this list to generate ideas for different types of jobs or positions to explore if you are in the midst of a job search and to develop your resume by including some in the objective section of your resume and in your cover letter.
Taking the General Approach
Knowing your work values is important. This awareness can help you recognize when it’s time to leave a job, how to choose between two jobs, and many other career-related decisions.
Trying Exercises to Identify Your Values
For example, looking at examples of what people value in their careers – such as work-life balance, learning opportunities, pace of the day, travel opportunities, etc. – can clarify what you consider most important to you.
Your Work Values Are Unique
Everyone will value different factors differently. At different times in your life, your work values may change. Therefore, it’s important to understand that your work values are unique.
Sources
Used
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Source: CareerOneStop. “Values of Work.” Accessed July 28, 2021. CareerOneStop. “Choose Your Career.” Accessed July 28, 2021.
Source: https://www.thebalancemoney.com/what-are-career-values-with-examples-2059752
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