Overwhelmed by too many career options? Considering your values might help you out!
A lot of times when we think of the phrase values, we think
about our personal moral or ethical beliefs. But, in terms of making a career
choice, when we use the word values, we’re talking more about personal priorities
and preferences. (I like to operate under the assumption that anyone who might
read this blog would choose a moral and legal career path!)
About.com’s Career Planning Section provides the following
list of values and their corresponding definitions:
- Autonomy: receiving
no or little supervision
- Helping
Others: providing assistance to individuals or groups
- Prestige: having
high standing
- Job
Security: a high probability that one will remain employed
- Collaboration: working
with others
- Helping
Society: contributing to the betterment of the world
- Recognition: receiving
attention for your work
- Compensation: receiving
adequate pay
- Achievement: doing
work that yields results
- Utilizing
Your Skills and Background: using your education and work
experience to do your job
- Leadership: supervising/managing
others
- Creativity: using
your own ideas
- Variety: doing
different activities
- Challenge: performing
tasks that are difficult
- Leisure: having
adequate time away
from work
- Recognition: receiving
credit for achievements
- Artistic
Expression: expressing one's artistic talents
- Influence: having
the ability to affect people's opinions and ideas
Sometimes individuals can have value conflicts. Value
conflicts arise when two or more values compete with each other. For example,
the values of High Earnings and Leisure Time may conflict, as those
professionals who have a higher salary may be required to work longer hours.
Values can serve as a good way to narrow down competing
career choices. You may enjoy a variety of career related activities, but if
these possibilities don’t provide you with things like adequate compensation or
job security, it may be time to check out other options.
