Work Values
Find What Matters in Your Career

"Is this really the right job for me?" "I want to change careers, but what should I look for?"

Many people struggling with their careers face these questions. Salary, meaning, work-life balance, growth opportunities—what to prioritize depends on your "work values."

What Are Work Values?

Work values are what you prioritize and find meaningful in your professional life. While values generally refer to what matters in life, understanding work-specific values makes career decisions easier.

Examples:

• Earning a high income
• Contributing to society
• Developing your skills
• Having job security
• Working with flexibility

All of these are valid work values. What matters is knowing which ones you prioritize most.

The 8 Types of Work Values

Career research categorizes work values into several types. Which of these 8 do you value most?

1. Financial Reward

Prioritizes high salary, bonuses, and benefits. Financial stability and prosperity directly impact job satisfaction.

• Want to earn a high income
• Want financial freedom
• Want to support family financially

2. Security

Values job stability, predictable future, and low risk. Seeks an environment where you can work long-term with peace of mind.

• Want to stay at one company long-term
• Want to work without future anxiety
• Want to work in a stable industry

3. Growth & Learning

Values new skill acquisition, self-improvement, and challenging opportunities. Wants to constantly grow without stagnation.

• Want to always be learning
• Want skill development opportunities
• Want challenging work

4. Social Contribution

Values contribution to society and meaningful work. Treasures the feeling that your work helps others.

• Want to address social issues
• Want work that helps people
• Want to contribute to making the world better

5. Autonomy

Values working at your own pace, having discretion, and flexible arrangements. Dislikes being managed and wants control.

• Want to work my own way
• Don't want time or location constraints
• Want to make my own decisions, not follow orders

6. Work-Life Balance

Values balancing work and personal life, adequate rest, and family time. Believes work isn't everything in life.

• Want to leave on time without overtime
• Want time for hobbies and family
• Want proper vacation time

7. Recognition & Status

Values social standing, peer recognition, and prestige. Finds meaning when achievements are acknowledged.

• Want to work at a prestigious company
• Want to be recognized as an expert
• Want to demonstrate leadership

8. Relationships

Values good workplace environment, teamwork, and colleague connections. Who you work with significantly impacts job satisfaction.

• Want to work with good people
• Value workplace atmosphere
• Find meaning in team achievements

"Whether you do what you love or love what you do, knowing your values is the starting point." —Unknown

Assess Your Work Values

Answer these questions to explore your work values.

Question 1: Imagine Your Ideal Job

If money, time, and ability weren't constraints, what would you do? What makes that appealing?

Question 2: Reflect on Past Work Experience

• What was your most fulfilling work experience? Why was it fulfilling?
• What was your most difficult work experience? What made it hard?
• Have you felt "this job isn't for me"? What didn't fit?

Question 3: Consider Trade-offs

Which would you choose?

• High income but demanding hours vs. Average income but relaxed lifestyle
• Large stable company vs. Risky startup with growth potential
• Meaningful but low-paying vs. Less meaningful but high-paying
• Team environment vs. Solo work

Question 4: What's Non-Negotiable?

Name three things you absolutely won't compromise on in a job.

Create Your Work Values Ranking

Rank the 8 work values by importance to you. For detailed methods, see "Know Your Values."

1. _______ (Most important)
2. _______
3. _______
4. _______
5. _______
6. _______
7. _______
8. _______ (Least important)

Your top 3 are your core work values. Use these as criteria for career decisions.

Values-Based Career Decisions

When Considering a Career Change

Evaluate new opportunities with these questions:

• Does this job satisfy my top 3 values?
• Compared to my current job, will value fulfillment increase?
• What would I gain by sacrificing certain values? Is it worth it?

When Planning Your Career

When thinking about 5 or 10 years ahead:

• Which values will this direction fulfill?
• Values can change. Will I still hold these values in 10 years?
• Might life stage changes (marriage, parenting, caregiving) shift my priorities?

When Dissatisfied with Your Current Job

Analyze your dissatisfaction from a values perspective:

• Which values feel unfulfilled?
• Is there a way to fulfill those values in my current workplace?
• Could a department transfer, work style change, or conversation with my manager help?

Handling Values Conflicts

In reality, work values often conflict.

Examples:

• Many growth opportunities but poor work-life balance
• High social impact but low salary
• High autonomy but low security

Strategies:

1. Clarify your most important value (accept you can't have everything)
2. Prioritize what matters most "right now" (this changes with life stages)
3. Seek creative solutions (is there a job that satisfies both?)
4. Weigh short-term sacrifice against long-term gain

Values Change Over Time

Work values shift with life stages and experience.

• 20s: Often prioritize growth, challenge, skill development
• 30s: Income, stability, work-life balance often become more important
• 40s+: Tend to value social contribution, meaning, mentoring

Regularly revisit your values to make career choices that fit who you are now.

Explore Your Work Values with Soul Compass

Career struggles often stem from insufficient self-understanding. Answering "What do I really want?" and "What do I value?" reduces career decision uncertainty.

Soul Compass is an app that deepens self-understanding through daily journaling. By answering AI-generated questions, your work outlook, values, and life priorities become clearer.

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