Values-Based Career Decisions: A Practical Guide

You're at a career crossroads, contemplating your next move. Perhaps you're eyeing a promotion, considering a job change, or re-evaluating your current role. Making these decisions is challenging, especially when aligning them with your personal values. This guide offers a concrete exercise to transform abstract 'know your values' advice into actionable steps you can complete in one evening.

Identify Your Core Career Values

Values only help you decide once you rank them. Listing what matters to you produces a nice list and no decision, because every real career choice forces a trade between two things you genuinely value. The useful exercise is forcing that ranking before the decision arrives, not during it.

Start by focusing on what truly matters to you in a career. This isn't about listing every value imaginable but honing in on those that significantly impact your work satisfaction and decisions. Say you've been a project manager for six years and value collaboration and creativity. These should be at the forefront of your list.

Exercise: Narrow Down Your Values

1. Write down all the values that come to mind. Aim for 15-20.
2. Group similar values together.
3. From each group, select the one value that resonates most with you.
4. Finalize a list of 5-7 core values.

By the end of this exercise, you'll have a clearer picture of what drives you professionally.

Evaluate Your Current Situation Against These Values

Once you've identified your core values, assess how well your current job aligns with them. This can highlight areas where a change might be necessary.

Mini-Scenario Assessment

Consider a scenario where you value flexibility, but your job requires strict 9-to-5 hours. Ask yourself:

• How much flexibility do I have currently?
• Can I negotiate more flexible hours?
• Does this misalignment affect my job satisfaction?

Answering these questions can help you determine if small changes could improve your situation or if a more significant career decision is necessary.

Explore Opportunities That Align With Your Values

Now that you have a grasp on your values and how they fit with your current role, consider future opportunities that better align. This might involve looking at roles within your company or external opportunities.

Script: Discussing Values in an Interview

"Can you tell me how [Company Name] values collaboration within teams? This is something very important to me as I consider my next career steps."

Using such scripts can help ensure that potential new roles align with your core values.

Set Clear, Values-Based Career Goals

It's crucial to not only understand your values but also to set career goals that reflect them. This alignment can guide your career decisions and help you measure your progress over time.

Steps to Define Values-Based Goals

1. Review your list of core values.
2. Consider what success looks like for each value.
3. Set one specific goal per value. For example, if 'innovation' is a value, a goal might be to lead a new project initiative.

This exercise can provide a roadmap for your career development, ensuring each step you take is aligned with what matters most to you.

Reflect and Adjust Regularly

Your values and career goals are not static. Regular reflection can help ensure they remain aligned with your career path.

Monthly Reflection Practice

• Set aside 30 minutes at the end of each month.
• Review your values and goals.
• Adjust them based on any new insights or changes in your circumstances.

This ongoing practice ensures your career decisions remain grounded in your evolving values.

Aligning your career decisions with your values can lead to greater satisfaction and fulfillment. By following this guide, you can take practical steps toward a career path that truly resonates with who you are.

We at Nawaya offer a free first session with a career mentor to help you explore your career values and make informed decisions. Consider booking a session to discuss your path further.

Frequently asked questions

What are career values, in practical terms?

They are the conditions that make work feel worth doing for you specifically: autonomy, security, income, craft, impact, flexibility, status, learning. They are not virtues. Two people with opposite rankings can both be right.

Why is ranking them so uncomfortable?

Because ranking forces you to admit what you are willing to give up. That discomfort is the exercise working. A list where everything matters equally cannot resolve a single real decision.

What if my values have changed?

That is normal and worth acting on. Values shift with life stage, and a role that fitted at 25 can fail at 35 without anything going wrong. Redo the ranking whenever a decision feels harder than it should.

If you would like to test your ranking against someone who has made a similar decision, find a career guide on Nawaya and book a free first session. Our platform comparison also covers the free alternatives fairly.