Have you ever had a job that just wasn’t right? The salary may have been fair, and your job responsibilities were in line with your skills. But for some reason, the workplace or the company culture just didn’t satisfy your expectations. You found yourself headed home at the end of the day dissatisfied and unenthused about the next day’s work.

The problem could have been a misalignment of work values. While these preferences can be a challenge to pinpoint, they’re an important part of your overall workplace happiness. Here’s how you can assess your own work values, and find a job to match.

What Are Work Values?

Your work values are the principles that matter to you regarding your work or career. Not all companies value the same things. Nor do they go about their business in the same way. Two different boutique hotels, for example, could have wildly different approaches to customer service, hiring and firing, and profitability.

When your personal work values aren’t reflected in your employer, you may find yourself dissatisfied with your job. Or worse—you could be asked to compromise your own personal values in order to stay employed. To prevent this kind of conflict, it’s important to know your own work values before starting the job search.

Examples of Work Values

• Autonomy and independence
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Honesty
• Respect
• Efficiency
• Recognition for your work
• Job security
• Creative work
• Workplace flexibility or work/life balance
• Sustainability and eco-friendliness

How Can You Assess Your Work Values?

There are a number of ways you can assess your own work values. One way is to work with a career development specialist who can walk you through a series of questions or interviews designed to explore what’s important to you. While this may be the most thorough method, it will probably have an associated cost. 

Another option is to complete a free work value self-assessment. There are several options online that ask you to rate certain values on a scale of most important to least. The Work Values Test from 123test.com, for example, rates test-takers on 14 different values including Security, Influence, and Prestige. 

Finding a Company That Matches Your Work Values

Once you have an understanding of your own work values, the next step is to find a company that lives up to them. This can be tricky, as most companies won’t include “your manager will take credit for all your work” or “we don’t care about the planet” on their job descriptions!

Still, there are certain keywords you can look for to determine whether a company might be a good value fit. For example, a job that lists benefits like paid time off, remote work options, and wellness programs would appear to value work-life balance. And one that offers tuition reimbursement seems invested in their employee’s personal growth. 

And while it’s always beneficial to have an idea of a company’s values before you reach the interview stage, don’t discount the interview itself. Prepare some questions for the interviewer that will help you to get a feel for company principles. For example, if recognition for your work is important to you, you could ask how employees are acknowledged for a job well done. If the interviewer lights up and starts to talk about bonus programs, employee appreciation events at the conclusion of big projects, and weekly personal emails from the CEO highlighting employee excellence, that’s a great sign. But if they stare at you blankly for a minute before stammering that there’s an annual pizza lunch, then that company may not be a good value fit.

Hcareers’ Personal Fit Assessment

Finding matching job opportunities is easier with Hcareers’ Personal Fit Score. Your Fit Score will include a Salary Fit, Skill Fit, and Culture Fit to better connect you with job openings that tick all the boxes. 

Once you have your list of work values, you can add the top ten to your Culture Fit profile. Then, Hcareers will show you how well a potential employer’s culture corresponds to your own values

You’ll also see if their salary matches your desired range, and you’ll be able to tell if you have the skills the job requires. This function lets you spend less time searching, so you can spend more time perfecting your resume and cover letter!