Work values to guide career decision-making
Updated 2024-07-09. Originally published 2013-08-12 on VocationVillage.com
Work values determine which characteristics feel essential or important for you to have in the day-to-day activities you perform at your work. When people’s work values align with their job/career, they are usually happier.
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 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 at the same time. Examples of mutually exclusive value pairs are Fast Pace vs. Leisurely Pace, Privacy vs. Recognition, and Change vs. Predictability.
Here's how to use this list.
- Skim the list once through. When two values are similar, notice if one resonates more for you than the other.
- 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 rarely 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 tangible feeling of accomplishment about an outcome, facilitated by effort, courage, or skill
Advancement
Ability to move ahead in your career, gaining income, power, and/or status as you go
Adventure
Have unusual, exciting, and potentially risky experiences, usually in various geographic locations
Affiliation
Being closely associated with or connected to a group, association, organization, etc.
Art
Involvement in artistic endeavors in some way
Authenticity
The ability to be yourself
Authority
The power to give orders, decide how things should be done, and enforce obedience
Autonomy
The ability to act on your own values and interests
Beauty
Work involving attractive people, places, or things
Belonging
A feeling of being happy or comfortable as part of a particular group
Bravery
Showing courageous behavior or character
Camaraderie
Mutual trust and friendship among people who spend a lot of time together.
Challenge
Lots of difficult demands in terms of time, results, etc.
Change
Taking part in frequently evolving and dynamic situations
Commitment
The state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity, etc.
Community
A feeling of fellowship with others because of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.
Community Service
Making the world a better place by helping individuals, groups, and/or the larger society
Competition
Situations in which you compare yourself with others in ways that result in clear wins and losses
Connection
Being associated or joined with others with common interests
Creative Self-Expression
Ample opportunity to express yourself via new communication, programs, processes, etc.
Creativity
Using the imagination or original ideas, especially in the production of an artistic work
Diversity
The practice or quality of including or involving people from a range of different social and ethnic backgrounds and of different genders, sexual orientations, etc.
Employee Development
A culture that develops the talents of the workforce
Equality
The state of similar distribution of status, rights, and opportunities
Equity
The state of fairness and justice in status, rights, and opportunities
Expertise
Be viewed as a person who is on the cutting edge of knowledge in some area
Fairness
Impartial and just treatment or behavior without favoritism or discrimination
Fame
Being known to large numbers of people
Family
A group of one or more parents and their children living together as a unit
Fast Pace
Circumstances in which work must be done rapidly
Flexible Schedule
Choosing your own work hours
Focus
Ability to concentrate highly on one specific thing or area at a time
Freedom
The power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint
Friendship
A state of mutual affection, trust, and support
Fun
Enjoyment, amusement, or lighthearted pleasure
Glamour
Being around attractive, exciting people or events
Global Focus
Work that has a global impact
Gratitude
Feeling or showing an appreciation of kindness; thankful
Growth
The process of increasing, whether in size, maturity, scope, etc.
Hands On
Using manual dexterity
Harmony
Agreement; accord
Health
Being free from illness or injury
Helping
Providing assistance to individual persons or groups
High Income
Reliable receipt of a lot of money
Honesty
Characterized by truth and sincerity
Humility
A modest or low view of one's own importance; humbleness
Humor
The quality of being amusing or comic, especially as expressed in literature or speech
Influence
Changing and/or persuading people
Initiative
The power or opportunity to act or take charge before others do
Innovation
Being on the cutting edge of methods, ideas, products, etc.
Integrity
Honesty and upholding your moral/ethical principles
Initiative
Using self-motivation and drive
Justice
Ensuring fairness for people and situations
Kindness
The quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate
Knowledge
Acquiring information and wisdom
Leadership
The ability of an individual or a group of people to influence and guide followers or members of an organization, society or team
Learning
Continually mastering new information or skills
Leisurely Pace
Circumstances in which work can be done slowly
Location Independence
Working from any geographic location of your choice, anywhere in the world
Love
An intense feeling of deep affection
Management of People
Directing the work of others
Management of Products
An organizational function that guides every step of a product's lifecycle — from development to positioning and pricing
Management of Projects
Using specific knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to deliver something of value
Mastery
Knowing most of what there is to know about a subject
Meaning
Doing work that feels like it matters
Nature
The phenomena of the physical world collectively, including plants, animals, the landscape, and other features and products of the earth
Nurturing
The state of being caring and protective
Open-Mindedness
A willingness to listen to or accept different ideas or opinions
Optimism
Hopefulness and confidence about the future or the successful outcome of something
Order
Arranging or maintaining things in a particular sequence, pattern, or method
Outdoors
Opportunity to be outside in the open air
Passion
A strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement for something or about doing something
Peacefulness
Serenity with an absence or minimum amount of conflict
Persistence
Staying in a course of action despite difficulties or opposition
Physicality
Work that involves physical strength, speed, skill, etc.
Portability
The ability to transfer work from place to place
Positivity
An optimistic approach that looks for solutions and expects excellent results and success
Power
Official authority and/or strength to enforce policies, laws, etc.
Precision
Requiring detail and has measurable right-or-wrong components
Predictability
Certainty and reliability about what is coming next
Privacy
Being relatively anonymous
Problem-Solving
The process of finding solutions to difficult issues
Project-Based
Sequence of tasks with a definite beginning and end
Prudence
The quality of using caution or circumspection as to danger or risk
Recognition
Getting positive feedback and credit for doing a good job
Remote Employment
The practice of completing work from a location other than a central office operated by the employer or client
Routine
Predictable work with few surprises
Scientific Pursuit
Work that uses the scientific method to advance the knowledge in a particular field
Security
Stable work that is relatively guaranteed to continue
Self-Control
Restraint exercised over one's own impulses, emotions, or desires
Significance
The quality of being worthy of attention
Simplicity
Having straightforward tasks that are easy to understand
Socializing
Being highly interactive with other people
Solitude
The state of being alone
Spirituality
The quality of being concerned with the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things
Stability
A situation in which something such as an economy, company, or system can continue in a regular and successful way without unexpected changes
Status
Impressing other people because of high prestige
Structure
Having highly systematized work
Tangible Results
Doing work that has concrete, observable results you can touch/measure
Teamwork
Working in groups rather than alone
Technology
Using computers or other types of technology
Transparency
Open communication throughout an organization, from the top on down
Travel
Going to different geographic locations
Trust
Firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something, ideally through reciprocity
Usefulness
Accomplishing something necessary and valuable
Variety
Doing different things on an hourly, daily, weekly, or other basis
Wealth
An abundance of valuable possessions or money
Wisdom
The quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment
Work-Life Balance
The ability to manage both personal and professional responsibilities with adequate time for rest and leisure
Work-Life Integration
Having a personally optimal blend of personal and work pursuits
Did I miss any? Please let me know.
