Historically, values have played a limited role in career counseling. They were usually only implicitly assessed, during the dialogue with the client. I often find that a lack of overlap between one's values and one's career is a key reason people want to change jobs or careers.
The Importance of Value Alignment in Career Decisions
Choosing a career path that aligns with our values is crucial, as it acknowledges the relationship between fulfillment and professional achievement. Research has demonstrated that when people find themselves in work environments that align with their core beliefs, they tend to experience job satisfaction, heightened motivation, and improved mental wellbeing. This alignment fosters a sense of purpose and belonging, which contributes to long-term career engagement and overall success.
Identifying Your Core Values
To ensure that your career aligns with your values, it's important to have an understanding of what your values are. Core values serve as the guiding principles that influence our behavior and actions in life. These values may encompass qualities such as integrity, creativity, leadership, and social responsibility. Values that are usually assessed for career-choice purposes include the need for independence or achievement orientation. Take time to reflect on those moments in which you felt fulfilled in your personal life and at work. What activities were you engaged in? Which values were you upholding during those moments?
Be sure to distinguish between values that guide your behavior on a daily basis and those that are aspirational. For example, if asked, many people might say that meaningful connections with others is one of their top values. However, on a daily basis, they might not set their priorities that way and connection with others might be something they would like to focus on more, but currently don't. In that case, be honest with yourself and think about how you can better re-align your behaviors with your values.

Strategies for Aligning Values with Career
Conducting a Value Audit of Your Current Career
Start by evaluating how well your current job aligns with your values. Does your role provide opportunities to embrace the values that hold significance for you? Are there any aspects of your job that contradict your core values? This audit can assist in identifying areas where enhancements or modifications may be necessary.
Leveraging Networking and Informational Interviews
Networking is a great way to help you understand how a career or organization might align with your values. Engage with experts in your desired field to gather knowledge about their experiences. Conducting interviews can offer a deeper understanding of whether a specific career path aligns well with your core values.
Seeking Roles and Companies that Reflect Your Values
When looking for new opportunities, it's important to do research on companies and positions that match your values. Take a look at a company's culture, their mission statement and any corporate social responsibility initiatives they have. Resources like Glassdoor and LinkedIn can give you insights into a company's culture, the values they prioritize and how they treat their staff.
Balancing Practical Considerations and Values
While it's important to ensure that your career aligns with your values, it's also crucial to take into consideration factors such as financial needs and job stability. Finding a balance between these aspects is key. At times, it may be necessary to compromise in the short term, while striving towards a role that better aligns with your values in the future.
Conclusion
Ensuring that your career choices are in harmony with your values is vital for long-term satisfaction and success. By understanding what truly matters to you, evaluating how your career aligns with those values, and actively seeking roles and companies that resonate with your beliefs, you can create a more fulfilling and purposeful career path. Remember, this process of alignment is ongoing as you continue to develop both professionally and personally.
Sylvia Broetje, PhD Industrial / Organizational Psychologist and Career Counselor
References
Wrzesniewski, A., McCauley, C., Rozin, P., & Schwartz, B. (1997). Jobs, careers, and callings: People's relations to their work. Journal of Research in Personality, 31(1), 21-33.
Credits: Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay
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