Align Your Values With Career Choices

By Dr. Towanna Freeman, Guest Contributor

Better opportunities, excellent pay packages, and broader exposure were some of the factors that once excited job seekers in the United States. Post the world economic crisis, however, opportunities are few and far between. Most job seekers are, therefore, actively scouting for job opportunities to ensure financial and professional security. In their anxiety to bag a job, some job hunters end up resorting to unethical practices that affect their productivity, preventing them from performing the expected responsibilities.

To achieve professional success, it is essential to opt for a job that matches your skill sets and where you can deliver expected results. However in lure of a fat pay package, many job seekers tend to take up jobs that do not commensurate with their skills or interests. It is important to be honest and ethical while making career choices to be able to do justice to the role and grow as a professional.

Listed below are some tips to help you align your values with career choices.

Evaluate Yourself

Before looking for a job, you must ask yourself if the job matches your profile and if you will be able to undertake all the responsibilities effectively. You should assess your strengths and weaknesses to explore the career opportunities that come your way. You can even take the help of your manager to gauge your performance.

Do You Want a Job or a Career?

A good pay package, incentives and other perks may seem tempting when you opt for a job. However, these should not be the only considerations that you must take into account. If you are looking for a stable and successful career, you should ask yourself if the job will add onto your skills and help you in career progression. A low paying job that gives you better exposure and opportunities will be a viable option in comparison to a high paying job which will not take you anywhere.

Your Role in the Organization

An integral aspect of the process to align your values with career choices involves understanding your job role and responsibilities. You should have a clear idea about what your role entails to assess if you can do full justice to it. As an ethical employee, you should be able to perform your responsibilities effectively. However, if the role does not match your skill sets, you will be limited in your performance. Therefore, while opting for a job, you must take these factors into account.

Job Satisfaction

Doing a job well does not merely assure you of a paycheck at month-end; it also gives you a sense of job satisfaction. Depending on your role, you will be able to understand if the work that you do makes you feel good about your role in the company. Job satisfaction also comes from taking up a challenging assignment and completing it effectively on time.

A great job is more than a paycheck and perks. An employer may not be able to offer you the best package in the industry, but still provide an opportunity to grow as a professional. From a career perspective, such opportunities can provide long-term benefits. 

Dr. Towanna Freeman, is the owner and creator of BlackLifeCoaches.net and founder of the Young Women's Empowerment Network.

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