Using Work Values To Guide Career Decisions - VocationVillage

Using Work Values To Guide Career Decisions - VocationVillage Work values determine which characteristics feel essential or important for you to have in the day-to-day activities you perform in your work. People are happier at work when their work values are aligned with their career/job.The first steps in evaluating your work values are to name them and to prioritize them. It is unlikely that you will get everything you want all at once, so you have to be willing to decide what is MOST important to you.Some values are mutually exclusive, meaning if you have one, you are unlikely to have another, at least during the same period of time. Examples of mutually exclusive value pairs are Fast Pace vs. Leisurely Pace, Privacy vs. Recognition, and Change vs. Predictability.Heres how to use this list. Skim the list once through. Quickly choose the FIVE values most important to you. Look for any contradictions between the values and reflect on what it means if you want two things that usually dont go together. Of the five you chose, rank them from most important to least important. Notice which value is MOST important to you. Keep these values in mind when you evaluate work opportunities.Achievement A definite feeling of accomplishment about the outcomeAdvancement Ability to continually move ahead in your career, gaining income, power, and/or status as you goAdventure Have unusual, exciting, and potentially risky experiences, usually in various geographic locationsAffiliation / Belonging Membership with a group of people with similar mission, values, and goalsArt Involvement in artistic endeavors in some wayAuthenticity The ability to be yourselfAutonomy / Freedom The freedom to do work in your own wayAuthority Being in a position to commandBeauty Work involving attractive people, places, or thingsCamaraderie / Friendship Spend lots of time making friends and socializing with co-workersChallenge Lots of difficult demands in terms of time, results, etc.Change Participating in frequently evolving and dynamic situationsCommunity Service Making the world a better place by helping individuals, groups, and/or the larger societyCompetition Situations in which you compare yourself with others in ways that result in clear wins and lossesCreative Self-Expression Ample opportunity to express yourself via new communication, programs, processes, etc.Employee Development A culture that values people and is committed to developing their talentsExpertise Be viewed as a person who is on the cutting edge of knowledge in some areaFame Being known to large numbers of peopleFast Pace Circumstances in which work must be done rapidlyFlexible Schedule Choosing your own work hoursFocus Ability to concentrate highly on one specific thing or area at a timeGlamour Being around attractive, exciting people or eventsGlobal Focus Work that has a global impactHands On Using manual dexterityHelping Providing assistance directly to individual persons or groupsHigh Income Earning a significant amount of moneyInfluence Changing and/or persuading peopleInnovation Being on the cutting edge of methods, ideas, products, etc.Integrity Honesty and upholding your moral/ethical principlesInitiative Using self-motivation and driveJustice Ensuring fairness for people and situationsKnowledge Acquiring information and wisdomLeadership Leading people or projects at the strategic visionary levelLearning Continually mastering new information or skillsLeisurely Pace Circumstances in which work can be done slowlyLocation Independence (Portability) Working from any geographic location of your choiceManagement of People Directing the work of othersMastery Knowing most of what there is to know about a subjectMeaning Doing work that feels like it mattersOrder Arranging or maintaining things in a particular sequence, pattern, or methodOutdoors / Nature Opportunity to be outdoors or in naturePeacefulness / Harmony Serene settings w/ an absence or minimum amount of conflictPhysicality Work that involves physical strength, speed, skill, etc.Power Official authority and/or strength to enforce policies, laws, etc.Precision Requiring detail and has measurable right-or-wrong componentsPredictability Certainty and reliability about what is coming nextPrivacy Being relatively anonymousProblem-Solving Solving complex problemsProject-Based Sequence of tasks with a definite beginning and endRecognition Getting positive feedback and credit for doing a good jobRoutine Predictable work with few surprisesScientific Pursuit Work that uses the scientific method to advances the knowledge in a particular fieldSecurity Stable, steady work that is relatively guaranteed to continueSimplicity Having straightforward tasks that are easy to understandSocializing Being highly interactive with other peopleSolitude Being alone a lotStatus Impressing other people because of high prestigeStructure Having highly systematized workTeamwork Working in groups rather than aloneTechnology Using computers or other types of technologyTransparency Open communication throughout an organization, from the top on downTravel Going to varying geographic locationsTrust Being able to trust managers, peers, and subordinates (and being trusted in return)Usefulness Accomplishing something necessary and valuableVariety Doing different things on an hourly, daily, weekly, or other basisWealth Building financial well-being beyond an annual incomeWork-Life Integration Having a personally optimal blend of personal and work pursuits