Learning About Yourself to Tell Your Story: Values

by Brenda L. Peterson, The Layoff Lady

Learning About Yourself

The first step of job searching is figuring out what kind of job you even want. Instead of jumping right into the same job you did before, it's wise to take a step back and reflect. A good starting point is thinking about what is truly important to you in your life and how you express those values. 

The Question: What is Important to Me?

Identifying what matters to you is helpful whether you're thinking about how you spend your money, what kinds of activities appeal to you, who you want to spend time with, and (go figure) what type of work you want to do. Unfortunately, I also find that it takes a lot of work to find the right words to articulate those high-level ideas that matter to you. 

Part of the Answer: think2perform Online Values Exercise

When designing a retirement planning seminar for clergy, I discovered the think2perform Online Values Exercise at a previous job. Since thinking about your money (or your work for that matter) starts with what you care about on a larger scale, this is a great starting point. Personally, I take this assessment on at least an annual basis because the process helps me revisit my values in general and helps me more thoughtfully talk about what I do and why I do it.

The assessment includes 51 named value cards and 4 rounds of reviewing the cards. The total time to complete this activity is about 15 minutes, and more, depending on how much contemplation you do during the process. You also have the option to add your own values as needed. In the end, you'll have 5 value cards with descriptions that name and describe key areas that matter to you. 

For me, as of the last time I completed this activity, my top 5 were (in no particular order) autonomy, education, helping others, health, and relationships. 

Applying Your Values to What You Want and How You Show Up

When I think about the type of work, my desired way of working, and my work preferences, using my values as a starting point helps me articulate how I think about these things in a more meaningful way.

• My value of autonomy reminds me that I like to have choices in the type of work I do and when I do it. For example, I like to have the option to work longer on a project when I hit flow or when a deadline is on the horizon. I also like to have the ability to come in later or leave earlier on other days. 
• My chosen field of learning and development is all about education. I literally help people learn for a living. I'm also a continuous learner who is constantly gathering information from industry best practices, to software skills, to a great book to read. This constant information gathering helps me to come up with solutions to problems as they arise. 
• I was drawn to learning and development, managing projects, and leading teams because of my overarching commitment to helping others. Ever since I was a small child growing up around a lot of adults, I found myself working to figure out details in any situation from context and then helping others who also looked like they didn't quite know what was going on. I always want to share a personal contact, organization, or website with someone if I think it can help them meet their goals. 
• Having been around people with health and mobility issues, my health is very important to me. This impacts my life including choices on exercise, diet, sleep, and overall wellness. Managing these factors helps improve my overall health, including my mental well-being. Therefore, I seek a challenging job where I can leverage my talents to create happiness in myself and within coworker relationships.
• I value relationships with people. I appreciate what is unique about each person and genuinely enjoy getting to know individuals personally and professionally. I also believe in building strong working relationships to collaborate to solve problems and ensure success as we partner.  

Learn More

• think2perform Online Values Exercise
• How to Identify Your Values by Susan David
• The Layoff Lady: I Just Got Laid Off--Now What? ​