Values are the characteristics that are most important to you. They make up your core belief system and serve as motivators that guide you in what you do and decisions you make. It is important to consider your values as you select a career. You will enjoy the work you do more if it aligns with your core values. If the work you choose conflicts with your values, you will most likely struggle with the position and this may create tension and discomfort in your life. It is important to consider your personal values along with your work related values.
For example, if you value good health and are assigned to market a product that may cause serious health concerns, you will likely find it difficult to market this item. If you are asked to do this on a continual basis, you will internally struggle with the role you play as this job forces you to go against your core values.
Let's Take a Look at Work Values
According to the Occupational Information Network (O*NET), the nation’s primary source of occupational information, work values are defined as the “global aspects of work that are important to a person’s satisfaction.” Below is a screenshot of the six work values to take into consideration while researching career options. O*NET allows you to do a Work Values Search by entering your top three Work Values to see which occupations match your choices. https://www.onetonline.org/explore/workvalues/Achievement/
Kuder Journey: an online tool, which provides reliable inventories to assess your interests, skills confidence, and work values, and suggests occupations and majors that match your assessment results. Kuder Journey also includes resources like a resume builder and online portfolio, to prepare you for the job search and connect you to today’s jobs! Your instructor will distribute login instructions with an activation code. You will have the opportunity to take the three assessments: interests, skills confidence, and work values.
Work Importance Profiler: this assessment helps you determine what values are important to you and how they line up with different careers. To complete the Work Importance Profiler go to the California Career Zone site at: https://www.cacareerzone.org/wip/. Below is a screenshot.
Your values will play an important role in each phase of the career and life planning process; therefore, it is important to take time to assess what is most important to you. When your values align with the work you do, you will feel more satisfied and invested in your career.
Complete the following three activities to review the work values that are most important to you.
Read about six core work values developed by the U.S. Department of Labor’s O*NET program. Click on the ones that best describe you to see careers that highlight that value. Record your findings:
The Values Card Sort Activity:
Your instructor may have you participate in this activity in class if you are taking an on ground/face to face class. If you are completing this course online, you may do it yourself by downloading and printing O*NET’swork values cards(pdf). Cut your own cards and sort them into three piles, identifying whether each is “essential,” “important,” or “not important” for your career needs. Make a note of the values that ranked high for you. Record your findings:
After you have identified your top values, explore careers that would allow you to express your values. Do you see a common theme amongst these careers? Explain:
