To clarify the values most critical to your personal/professional fulfillment, the following list describes a wide variety of satisfactions that people obtain from work. Look at the values and their definitions and rate the degree of importance that you would give each using the following scale:
1 = Not important at all
2 = Not very important
3 = Reasonably important
4 = Very important
After reviewing all the 4’s (4 = Very important), pick the top 5 that you would be unwilling to compromise on in a job and you would consider your “deal-breakers”:
Values and Descriptions
Advancement
Description: Getting ahead rapidly, gaining opportunities for growth and seniority from work well done
Adventure
Description: Having duties that involve frequent risk-taking and change
Aesthetics
Description: Surrounded by and/or creating beauty
Altruism/Help Others
Description: Helping others in a direct way and contributing to the betterment of the world
Authenticity
Description: Being real; being yourself
Balance
Description: Quality of life with room for personal and family interests
Challenges
Description: Engage with complex questions and demanding tasks
Competition
Description: Comparing your abilities to the abilities of others.
Community Activities
Description: Become active in volunteering, politics or service projects
Control
Description: Controlling the activities of yourself and others
Creativity
Description: Having and using original ideas
Expertise
Description: Demonstrating a high degree of competence and mastery of job skills and knowledge
Fast Pace
Description: Performing in circumstances where work is done rapidly and/or there is little room for error
Flexibility
Description: Work according to my time schedule
Fun
Description: Have opportunities to be playful and humorous at work
Growth
Description: Ability to learn/grow professionally, contributing in new ways
Harmony/Tranquility
Description: Avoid pressures and stress in job role and work setting and seek harmonious relationships
Health
Description: Maintain good physical, mental, and/or emotional health
Independence
Description: Making decisions without significant direction from others
Influence
Description: Helping to change attitudes or opinions of others
Knowledge/research
Description: Develop new information and ideas. Engage in pursuit of truth and understanding
Leadership
Description: Direct, manage, or supervise the work done by others
Make Decisions
Description: Having power to decide courses of action, policies, etc.
Mobility
Description: Opportunity to travel or to be out of an office
Moral Fulfillment
Description: Feel that your work is consistent with your ideals or moral code
Physical Challenge
Description: Having work that is physically challenging
Public Contact
Description: Having a lot of day-to-day contact with people outside work/home
Recognition/Approval
Description: Getting positive feedback and public credit for work well done
Respect/Achievement
Description: Feeling accomplished and recognized by others
Stability
Description: Have a work routine and job duties that are largely predictable and not likely to change over a long period of time
Status
Description: Have a work routine and job duties that are largely predictable and not likely to change over a long period of time
Teamwork
Description: Working with a group of people for common goals
Variety
Description: Have a wide range of work responsibilities frequently changing in content, setting people
and/or activities
Wealth
Description: Accumulating a larger than average amount of money or other material gain
Work Alone
Description: Working independently without significant contact with others
Work Values Self Assessment Exercise Sheet
Are you looking for a printable version of this self-assessment? Download the Work Values Self-Assessment Worksheet (PDF, 142)