What do you value in your career?

Hello friend! Have you recently got your first job? Congrats! That’s such an amazing feeling I bet!

You are embarking on such a fascinating journey. New people, new ways of working, soon you will get your first car or credit card, you may even be considering your own place and so much more. I remember my first job. Oh, the thrill!

Along with all the great stuff, I also remember being confused, a little scared and lost. Do you also feel all this?

I wish someone had advised me then on what I now know. Instead of just trying to get along and managing the newness on a daily basis, I wish someone had made me sit and think about what’s important to me and what I value when choosing a career. It’s a rare thing to find a career we love.

The values you got growing up, from your family, your school, your friends and even from your inner self, you will bring with you wherever you go. They are an important part of who you are, what you believe, what motivates you and often affects how you will conduct yourself at your workplace. This will influence how others perceive you.

Which is why it’s critical now that you start to think about what you value most in your workplace. And don’t worry that this is serious thinking. What you value will change with time and as you grow in age and professionally. But to begin thinking about it now creates a habit in your life where you will use this basis to make all your choices and decisions.

When you understand what you value most, finding a career and an employer that closely fits your values can increase your job satisfaction, your happiness and is almost a sure-fire formula for success.

Many things can contribute to job satisfaction. Based on my experience, I can give you some thought starters, and you can add to this list based on what you think works for you.

One way to approach this is – What makes you happy?

Is it the money you make?

Is it that you are learning new things?

 Do you want your job to help you get into a study-course in the future?

Do you aspire to get status through your work?

Do you want to be able to have time to build a side-hustle or follow a hobby closely?

Do you want to feel safe at your work or constantly challenged?

Some more criteria could be – What motivates you?

What tasks do you find personally enjoyable?

Think about your personality and how you like to be. A few ideas to start you with are-

• Independent: doing things on your own, with little supervision
• Achievement: ability to complete tasks successfully
• Variety: trying new things and doing different activities
• Service: helping others or the community
• Creativity: producing innovative ideas and using your imagination
• Challenge: taking risks, experimenting, and solving problems
• Recognition: appreciation for work, advancing in career and being noticed by others
• Relationships: making good friends with your colleagues and know them socially

Ask yourself these questions. Trust me, it’ll help you know yourself more –

1. What did you want to be as a child?

2. What will your friends & family say are your strengths?

3. Who was your biggest role-model growing up?

4. What do you truly dislike doing?

5. What is your purpose in life?

6. To what lengths you will go to make more money?

7. What is a deal-breaker for you?

As you can see, these are just some ideas. After spending the last 20 years of my life working, I still ask myself these questions time to time. I like to think such things early in the morning. I intentionally set aside a time for it. You can also figure out what time of the day or which day of the week works best for you. Or simply mull over such topics while you are going about your day, driving, eating, walking, exercising etc.

So why is it important that you take all this time to find what you value in your work? A job you love transforms how you view work. It becomes a place you want to be, rather than dread going to each day.

Whatever your passions are, follow them to create a career around them and find a place that honours them. You will thank yourself one day for this.