In my first job after post-graduation, I often felt bored and distracted. I was just not into it. The motivation drive was lacking. I was feeling that it was due to the end of student life and wondered if I was going to have a boring work life during all the productive years. I dragged myself to work everyday and would wait for the weekends. After a couple of months, I decided to talk to a career counsellor because thoughts about whether this career is right for me were engulfing me everyday.
After the initial exchange of information about me, my current workplace culture and a couple of easy-peasy assessments, my career counsellor walked me through the reports of the same and pointed that I and the workplace are not in-sync with each other. What does that even mean? It is just an office and not some relationship to be in-sync with. But she said that a job is just like any serious, committed relationship and if the work values of both do not match, then either or both suffer. Work values? What are those? – was my instant reaction.
“Work values also known as career values are our personal ideals, beliefs and motives which plays an essential role in identifying what is most important in our professional life. They are motivating factors which make us work and contribute to our overall work satisfaction, success and happiness. They are also our personal values and principles which guide our conduct at work.” In brief, work values are indispensable to determine our working style, our contribution to be productive and motivators to have work-life balance and satisfaction.
Such a worthy term if realised at the right time can lead to a great success in career. Most of the job searchers fail to realise and consider their work values while looking for career opportunities. We are never made aware about the importance of work values hence, realization of the same is a very important step while applying for jobs. Work values play an important role you will perform or advance in your career. They are very personal and will differ in each individual. They are also dynamic in nature which means they may change as you mature depending on your personal and professional experiences.
Companies too have work values which if not synchronized with individual work values often lead to misfit for both – employee and employer. Companies prefer to have employees who share their culture and values to be a part of their organization. Indeed! This sounds like having major relationship goals with the organization.
Your work values are your beliefs and ideas that are related to your occupation or job. These core principles are an important part of who you are. These work values are not related to any particular job as such but are related to any job that you may take up and value them in general.
So why wait to realise which are your work values. I came across this assessment which helps to understand and determine your work values and explain your dominant ones.
According to an interview with Glassdoor’s President and COO, Christian Sutherland-Wong,
“Job seekers want to be paid fairly but they too want to work for a company whose values align with their own and whose mission they can fully get behind.”
It’s important that a person’s career values align with their job and the company. When an employer’s career or work values coincide with your own, you’re more likely to be happier and more productive, increasing job stability and satisfaction.
Finding a career that conforms to your values can increase your job satisfaction and overall happiness. Taking the time to identify your career values can mean the difference between a long and meaningful professional career and one filled with jobs that are unfulfilling or cause unhappiness.
Take work value assessment right now to understand which work values will motivate you and which may not work well.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1SakqLiEsjqcQYIRdAf_GCBFuBFY_c1xGKU66QT5cOrk/edit
If you’re a recruiter, you too are at the right place. Our experts at Stride Ahead will help you select the right candidates for your company having similar work values and culturally fit for your organization.
Visit us at https://strideahead.in/ to book your first free call with our expert.
