“We work not only to produce but also to give value to our time.”
- Eugene Delacroix
When many people start out looking for a career, they begin by doing an inventory of what they are good at doing; mainly looking to their obvious skills. They might do a skill assessment that they find online or in a career book and use that as their road map for starting out on their career path.
What most people neglect to think about when deciding on a career are their values. Our values are the things that are most important to us in life and our career. They are formed throughout our life by our experiences, family, friends and our feelings. Over time, what we value changes simply due to life changes. They are our personal preferences, priorities and motivators for most things that we do. So when you are deciding upon a new career path, it is of utmost importance to take into account your values.
So, what do you value in life? in a career?
In general, society tells us that we should value money, power and respect, especially when it comes to choosing a career. I challenge you to begin thinking about what you value in a career from a broader perspective. Start to think about what you value in the work itself, the contribution to society you make, how your career effects your family and what satisfaction you get from your career.
Personally I believe that your values are the most important thing for you to consider when choosing your next career path. If your career does not align with your values, you will not be happy in your job, you will experience burnout and will most likely not be satisfied with your career. When I meet with someone for the time to help them figure out their career path, I always start by asking what are the three to five most important things for them to find in their next job. Some people can answer this question immediately and others are not really sure.
A good way to figure out what you valued in your past jobs is to start by making a list of EVERY job you have ever had. And I mean EVERY job. From the first $2 that you made to present day. Also, if you have done any extensive volunteer or committee work, include that as well. Next to each job, write down the three things that you liked the most at that job. This could be anything from the people you worked with, to the salary you made, to the mission of the company, to the autonomy you had. Think back to the happiest times you had at each job and why you were happy there.
Once your list is completed, look at what patterns you see. What were the things that repeatedly came up? This is a good start for determining your values.
Stay tuned for more information and ideas on figuring out your values!
A good way to figure out what you valued in your past jobs is to start by making a list of EVERY job you have ever had. And I mean EVERY job. From the first $2 that you made to present day. Also, if you have done any extensive volunteer or committee work, include that as well. Next to each job, write down the three things that you liked the most at that job. This could be anything from the people you worked with, to the salary you made, to the mission of the company, to the autonomy you had. Think back to the happiest times you had at each job and why you were happy there.
Once your list is completed, look at what patterns you see. What were the things that repeatedly came up? This is a good start for determining your values.
Stay tuned for more information and ideas on figuring out your values!
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