As the economy is still recovering and many people are looking for work right now, we might be tempted to take just “any” job instead of finding the “right” job, but evaluating a company’s values is an important step to see if the position and company will be a good fit for the long run.
All too often, when people are interviewing, they are only focused on compensation, career growth or exciting perks the new job might offer. While these are important aspects to take into account, it’s important to find a company where you feel you are doing meaningful work.
Meaningful work looks different for everyone, however most often it can be linked back to a person’s values and whether or not those align with the company’s values. One of the main reasons why people are unhappy in their jobs is that their work, career or employer is at odds with their values.
By having your personal values align with the company’s core values, you will be more inspired to do your job, have better relationships with colleagues, have a higher level of company loyalty and pride, and less job stress and tension.
Interestingly, most people don’t believe they currently work at a company whose values align with their own, so how can we start doing better?
To start, you need to know what your core values are.
Have you ever really stopped and evaluated your values? Values are basic and fundamental beliefs that guide or motivate your attitudes and actions. Values aren’t what you aspire to be but an intrinsic part of you based on how you were raised and the people who have had the most influence on you.
There are several websites that can take you through a step-by-step exercise to help you identify your values. One is the VIA Survey of Character Strengths that is a free self-assessment that takes less than 15 minutes and provides a wealth of information to help you understand your best qualities.
Next, take a look at the company’s values.
Do your values align with the company? Where do they differ? Are there any deal-breaker values that are missing? Your values won’t perfectly match up but look at where they intersect.
