Personal Values in Worklife: How to define them and use them in your career
Ultimate Job Search Guide · Part 3.2
Personal values are the principles that guide how you want to live and work. They are not just abstract words on a list — they show up in concrete ways, every day. The key is to get to know them, and why they are so important for you.
- If autonomy is important, you feel energized when trusted to solve problems independently
- If learning matters, you thrive when new challenges stretch your skills
- If fairness is central, you want recognition and opportunities to be shared openly
- If freedom is key, you likely avoid policy-heavy companies or rigid workplaces where you can’t choose how or where to work
Your values are already shaping your decisions, even if you haven’t written them down. Once you make them explicit, they become a clear, practical compass for your career.
The research behind values and work
Psychologists and thinkers have studied why values matter so much in work. Their findings are consistent: when your values and your workplace fit together, you feel motivated, resilient, and engaged.
Shalom Schwartz — values and satisfaction
Schwartz, a social psychologist, mapped human values across cultures. His research shows that when daily work aligns with personal values, people report 40–50% higher job satisfaction and stronger resilience.
For example: if fairness matters and your workplace rewards fairly, you gain energy. If fairness is violated, frustration grows and motivation drops.
Viktor Frankl — meaning as strength
Frankl was a psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor who wrote Man’s Search for Meaning. He showed that people can endure extreme hardship if they see meaning in it.
In careers, meaning often comes from values. If you value helping others and your work improves lives, you feel purpose. Without that link, even a well-paid job can feel empty.
Stephen Covey — principles guide progress
Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, argued that efficiency without principles is hollow.
In careers, you can achieve titles or promotions, but if they conflict with your values, progress won’t feel rewarding. Values make success feel real.
Brené Brown — clarity makes values visible
Brown, researcher and author of Dare to Lead, explains: “Clarity is kind.”
A value counts only if others can see it in action. Saying you value collaboration means little unless colleagues feel it through listening, sharing credit, and working together.
Summary: when your workplace supports your values, you gain energy and resilience. When it clashes with them, no salary or perks can compensate.
Values and vision working together
Your career vision (see next chapter) is where you want to go. Your values steer the everyday decisions that move you forward.
- Vision is the destination
- Values are the steering wheel
Both are needed. Without values, you drift. Without vision, you move in circles. Together, they give you direction and alignment.
From words to decisions
Lists like “growth” or “creativity” sound good but don’t help much when comparing offers. Values become useful when you turn them into decision rules.
| Value | How it guides decisions |
|---|---|
| Learning | I choose roles where I can take on new responsibilities within a year |
| Autonomy | I avoid environments where every detail requires approval |
| Balance | I trade off some salary for working hours that leave energy for family |
Decision rules turn values into filters you can use when reading ads, asking interview questions, and weighing offers.
A real-life example: Lina’s Values Card
Lina used to apply for jobs mainly by salary and title. She often ended up in roles that looked fine on paper but drained her quickly.
After creating her Values Card, she worked differently:
- Growth — I choose roles where I can stretch within 12 months
- Clarity — I avoid teams where priorities shift weekly with no decision-maker
- Impact — I choose projects where I see a clear effect on customers
- Balance — I trade off higher salary for sane working hours
- Anti-values — I avoid micromanagement, favoritism, endless politics
Now she filters ads quickly, asks sharper questions in interviews, and compares offers with confidence. Her Values Card gave her both clarity and courage.
How to create your Values Card
Step 1 — Reflect on moments
Write down one high point and one low point in your career. Ask: Which values were honored? Which were violated?
Step 2 — Select your values
Choose 5–7 values that feel true right now. Add 2–3 anti-values — conditions you cannot accept.
Step 3 — Write decision rules
For each value, write one line: I choose… / I avoid… / I trade off…
Step 4 — Put it to use
Keep your card visible. Use it to filter ads, prepare interview questions, and compare offers. Revisit once a year.
Values Card Template
| My values | Rule in action |
|---|---|
| Growth | I choose roles where I can stretch within 12 months |
| Balance | I trade off higher salary for working hours that leave energy |
| Impact | I choose projects where I can see real results |
| ... | ... |
| My anti-values | Rule in action |
|---|---|
| Micromanagement | I avoid managers who control every detail |
| Favoritism | I avoid companies where recognition isn’t fair |
| Endless politics | I avoid environments where decisions are power games |
👉 Keep it one page. Test it against real job ads. Update yearly.
Exercises
1. Values stories (30 minutes)
Write one short story about a proud moment at work and one about a frustrating moment. Underline the principles that mattered. From this, extract 5–7 values.
2. Anti-values (15 minutes)
List three conditions you cannot accept. Write them as rules: I avoid managers who…
3. Build your Values Card (30 minutes)
Write your 5–7 values and 2–3 anti-values with rules. Keep it on one page. Use it this week when looking at roles.
What to remember
Skills qualify you. Networks open doors. But values decide whether you’ll feel engaged once inside.
When values are undefined, it’s easy to chase jobs that look appealing but drain you. When values are clear, decisions become easier and lighter. A Values Card helps you act on what matters most — and that clarity makes you both easier to trust and harder to shake.
Q&A: Career values in practice
Q: What are examples of personal values at work?
A: Growth, autonomy, fairness, learning, balance, and impact are common career values. The key is turning them into rules for real decisions.
Q: How many values should I choose?
A: 5–7 values plus 2–3 anti-values. That’s enough for clarity without becoming overwhelming.
Q: What if my values change?
A: They evolve. Revisit your card once a year to check if it still matches your priorities.
Q: How do I use values in interviews?
A: Turn them into questions. For example:
- If balance is important: “What does a normal work week look like here?”
- If growth matters: “What opportunities for new responsibilities open up in the first year?”
Q: Can values help me choose between offers?
A: Yes. Map each offer against your Values Card. Choose the one that fits your values, not just the one that pays more.
Further reading / listening
| Title | Author | Why useful |
|---|---|---|
| Man’s Search for Meaning | Viktor E. Frankl | Explains how meaning and values fuel resilience and purpose — foundational for careers. |
| The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People | Stephen R. Covey | A practical framework for aligning daily actions with principles. |
| Dare to Lead | Brené Brown | Clear guide on how to turn values into behaviors others can see and trust. |
| The Values Factor | John Demartini | Step-by-step approach to identifying your top values and making consistent decisions. |
| The Great Work of Your Life | Stephen Cope | Stories and philosophy on how values and purpose shape meaningful work. |
We also recommend you to tune in the "WorkLife" podcast by Adam Grant, where you can find episodes on motivation, authenticity, and how values shape satisfaction at work.
Previous: 3.1 Find work that gives you energy (use energy as a career compass)
Next: 3.3 How to define your vision – and why it matters in your career
