The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Understanding your work values is key
Use these checklists to determine which factors belong at top of your list of criteria.
Think about why you chose to do the job you do. Money? Autonomy? The chance to work for a good cause? These are just a few examples of work values that can influence your career path and job satisfaction.
Being conscious of these values— the importance, worth, or usefulness of something—can give you much greater odds of not only avoiding a job that makes you miserable but also finding a job that actually brings you joy—two things the entire job-seeking universe desires. That’s because people are happier when their value system aligns with their job and career choices, says Jaime Klein, founder of Inspire Human Resources, a New York–based HR consulting firm.
So, what are these magical values? Unfortunately, they aren’t always obvious.
“Values are one of the first things I work with my clients on, largely because I think people have a hard time identifying them,” says Amy Wolfgang, CEO at Austin, Texasbased Wolfgang Career Coaching.
Further complicating matters is the fact that work values aren’t universal. “What’s important to one person may not be important to someone else,” says Karen Litzinger, a business etiquette and career coach in Pittsburgh. And to add to the mystique, your work values can change over time: “People right out of college are often focused on getting a high-paying job so they can pay back their student loans, but that focus can shift later in their career,” says Litzinger.
To help determine your current set of work values, use this checklist, which is divided into three categories. You’ll form a better idea of what’s most important to you when searching for your next job.
Intrinsic values
These are the intangible rewards that keep you motivated and engaged at your job. In a nutshell, intrinsic values are what make you wake up in the morning and look forward to going to work, even when the weather’s lousy.
On a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being most important, rank how important these intrinsic values are to you:
■ Having variety and change at work. Some people get bored doing the same thing day in and day out, while others prefer having a set routine at work, Litzinger says.
■ Helping others. Working for a company with a good cause is a top priority for many workers, says Klein. Indeed, more than half of Millennials said a company’s charitable work influenced them to accept a job offer, recent survey by research and creative agency Achieve found.
■ Feeling respected at work. In a recent survey from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), 65% of workers said respectful treatment of all employees is an important factor of job satisfaction.
Extrinsic values
These are the tangible rewards or conditions you find at work, including the office setting, vacation policy, and earnings potential
On a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being most important, rank how important these extrinsic values are to you:
■ Traveling for work. The daily grind in Cubicleville can take its toll—especially on those who love to travel. And, chances are, the younger you are, the more pumped you are to find a job with travel perks. According to a recent survey by Hipmunk, 38% of Millennials travel for business, compared to just 23% of Gen Xers and 8% of baby boomers.
■ Collecting a big paycheck. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to make a good living. Monster’s Salary Search tool, PayScale.com, and Salary.com let you search for salary information based on job title and location.
■ Setting your own hours. Want an employer with a flexible work policy? You’re not alone. Aside from salary, 40% of Monster users said good work-life balance is the most important factor for job satisfaction, a recent poll found.
Lifestyle values
These are the personal values associated with where you want to live, how you choose to spend your free time, and your longterm life goals.
On a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being most important, rank how important these lifestyle values are to you:
■ Spending time with friends and family. This goes back to worklife balance; your job has a direct impact on your ability to spend time with your family. Investment banking jobs, for instance, generally entail long hours and working nights and weekends.
■ Living in a big city. Some people thrive on the hustle and bustle of city life, whereas others prefer a quieter pace of living in the ’burbs.
■ Living abroad. According to a Monster poll, 48% of users would leave the U.S. to pursue their dream job—and 31% of those respondents would move across the world for it.
Find the right job
Getting to know your work values can help set you up for a successful job search—and so can we. Could you use some help kick-starting your search? Join Monster today. As a member, you can upload up to five versions of your resume—each tailored to the types of jobs that interest you.