Work Values Self Assessment Exercise

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)