One thing is having a career. Another thing is having a career that actually aligns with what you care about (a.k.a. your values). You know, those profound principles that make you feel like you’re living with purpose and not just collecting a paycheck while killing yourself from the inside out.
If you don’t know what your values are, how can you use them to choose the right company? And if you ignore them long enough, you’ll probably end up somewhere that makes you feel like you don’t belong, and you’ll want to run away at the first opportunity. Let’s make sure that it doesn’t happen!
1- Identify your core values
Before you start analyzing companies, you need to get clear on what matters to you. And no, “good salary” is not a value, it’s a necessity to survive in this economy. Aside from a good salary, what are you craving? Being part of something bigger than yourself? Transfer your knowledge to a team? Helping people grow professionally? Traveling more for work? Having colleagues from all parts of the world? Maybe more time to spend with your partner, kids, parents, your friends? Or more time just for you, to enjoy silence, quiet, a hobby? Everything counts.
2 - Does your calendar reflect what you care about?
Scan through the meetings, projects, social events, and even the way you spend your weekends. Ask yourself:
- Does this schedule represent what’s actually important to me NOW?
- Is this just a collection of obligations and expectations set by others?
If your week is filled with things that make you feel drained, and there's barely any space for what lights you up, there’s a disconnect between your values and your reality.
No wonder you feel resentful and tired all the time. There’s a lot of taking your energy and not a lot of nourishing your values.
Energy takers vs. energy givers
Let’s color-code your activities (yes, we’re getting visual, why not?).
- Green = things that energize you, make you feel like yourself, and give you a sense of purpose.
- Red = things that suck the life out of you like the highest setting of a Dyson.
What’s the balance? If your week is looking like a crime scene (all red), then it’s time for some serious adjustments. No, I mean it. Do something now, because people burn out all the time thinking that stuff will sort itself eventually. It doesn’t and you deserve more.
What are the patterns?
Look at your green activities. What do they have in common? Do they involve teamwork, creativity, problem-solving, autonomy? These are clues to your core values. Now, look at the red ones. what’s causing that frustration? Maybe it’s a lack of respect, rigid structures, or a lack of impact. These are things you need to limit as much as possible.
3 - Define YOUR Top 5 non-negotiable values
Let’s put a name to what you’ve just discovered. Here are some common values to consider:
- Autonomy – do you thrive when you have freedom and ownership over your work?
- Growth – is learning and development crucial for you?
- Impact – do you need to feel like your work contributes to something bigger?
- Work-life balance – do you want clear boundaries between work and personal life?
- Collaboration – do you love working in teams and bouncing ideas around?
- Innovation – do you get excited about new ideas and pushing boundaries?
- Security – do you value stability and predictability?
Pick your own top five and keep them in mind as we move to the next step.
4- Evaluate companies through your values lens
Now that you know your values, it’s time to assess whether a company is actually a good match. Because, well, companies can look great on the outside but be completely misaligned with what you need and toxic.
How to filter out the noise and get to YOUR truth?
Check their mission and culture
Go beyond the perfect employer branding. Look at:
- Their mission statement: does it align with what you value?
- Their values page: do they talk about valuing work-life balance and other important aspects for you? Do they have data or other evidence of how they protect their employees time and mental health?
- Employee reviews on sites like Glassdoor: what do current and former employees say?
Pay EXTRA attention in interviews
Interviews are about you assessing them, as much as they are about you impressing them.
- Ask questions that dig into your values:
-“How does the company support professional growth?”
-“Can you tell me about a time when leadership demonstrated a commitment to work-life balance?”
-“How do teams collaborate here - can you share your wins and struggles?”
- Observe their energy: do they seem like they enjoy working there, or do they look like they’re acting the part, but there’s no genuine enthusiasm?
Trust your gut
Your intuition is smarter than you think. If something feels off, even if everything looks good on paper, listen to that little voice in your head. It’s trying to save you from a bad decision.
5- Fight or flight - but don’t freeze!
Maybe you’re realizing that actually you have been feeling so tired and confused for a reason. You are already working for a company that clashes with your values.
And that’s ok. I speak every week with people that are stuck in this SAME stage.
Let’s see what’s within your control:
- Can you change roles to better align with what you value?
- Can you set boundaries or negotiate reasonable changes (working less hours/ taking on a new personal project etc.)?
- Can you find more colleagues committed to creating a better environment?
If you’ve tried everything and you’re still feeling out of place, then it might be time to start planning your exit.
Your values aren’t just some philosophical or nonsensical stuff, they are the key to finding work that actually fulfills you. When you align your job with your values, work stops feeling like a never-ending to-do list and starts feeling like something meaningful.
So, take this process seriously. Do the self-reflection, ask the hard questions, and don’t settle for a workplace that makes you compromise who you are. The right company for you does exist! You just have to make sure you have full clarity and the patience to get noticed.
The moment you start honoring your values is the moment you quit morphing into what everyone else wants you to be. You’ll be happy!
Not sure you can stay committed and achieve what you want by yourself? That’s what certified career coaches are for. I’m one click away from a conversation. Reach out!