Using your values as a foundation for career planning
Starting with your values
When planning your next career step, you might already have a good sense of your interests, skills, and strengths. You might also consider practical constraints such as location or family commitments. However, one of the most critical but often overlooked elements in career planning is your values.
Values are the beliefs and principles that guide your decision-making and give your work meaning. They influence your motivation and satisfaction and can play a pivotal role in helping you choose a fulfilling career path.
What are values?
Values are personal and deeply rooted in your life experiences. They reflect what is most important to you and influence how you approach your work and life. Here are some examples of values:
- Altruism: Helping others or contributing to society
- Pursuit of knowledge: A love of learning and discovery
- Prestige: Recognition and respect
- Adventure: Seeking excitement and new challenges
- Independence: Autonomy and freedom in decision-making
- Teamwork: Collaboration with others
- Creativity: Opportunities for innovation and self-expression
- Accomplishment: Mastery and achieving excellence
- Work-life balance: Time for family or leisure
- Integrity: Honesty and ethical behaviour
Other values might include stability, security, artistic expression, or competition.
Why values matter in career planning
Your values shape your career satisfaction and overall happiness. For example, if you value work-life balance, pursuing a high-pressure role requiring long hours might conflict with your priorities. Similarly, if you value creativity, working in a role with little opportunity for innovation could leave you unfulfilled.
Reflecting on how your current role aligns with your values can provide valuable insights. Consider whether your research has aligned with your core beliefs. Were there areas that resonated strongly? Were there aspects that didn’t? For example, if financial security is a key value for you, you may find that pursuing a doctorate didn’t fully satisfy this need but was instead a step toward achieving another goal.
Steps to align your values with your career
1. Explore your values
Take time to identify what matters most to you. A careers advisor or coach can guide you through this process, helping you articulate your values and understand how they influence your decision-making.
2. Understand intrinsic and extrinsic values
- Intrinsic values relate to the work itself, such as helping others or creating something new.
- Extrinsic values are by-products of the work, such as earning recognition or achieving financial security.
Understanding this distinction can help you prioritise the aspects of a career that truly matter to you.
3. Research potential careers
Investigate how different roles align with your values. A careers advisor can provide valuable insights and challenge assumptions you might hold. Remember, people with different values can thrive in the same career, finding fulfilment in diverse ways. For instance, one person might value teaching for the stability it provides, while another values the opportunity to inspire others.
4. Be open to possibilities
There may be career paths and roles in sectors you are not yet familiar with. Keep an open mind as you explore, and consider the diverse ways your skills and values can be applied.
5. Regularly reflect on your values
When making career decisions, ask yourself:
- Which of my values are non-negotiable?
- How does this career path align with my values?
- Are there ways I can better integrate my values into my current work?
By using your values as the foundation for your career planning, you can build a pathway that aligns with who you are and what matters most to you, ensuring a fulfilling and meaningful career journey.
Final takeaway
For further support, consider reaching out to your university or employer’s career advisory services or a coach. They can provide tools and guidance to help you explore your values and plan your next steps effectively.