Define your personal core values to advance your career

If you’d like to advance your career and reach your professional goals, you may be thinking about ensuring you have the right education, that you work hard, and that you network with the right people. But one often overlooked aspect that can be key to making career progression much easier is to ensure you’re working for an employer with company values that align with your own personal ones.

Why are aligned values so important?

Two-thirds (66%) of people say their potential employer’s sustainability initiatives are ‘important’ or ‘very important' to them. That’s according to a recent survey of 4,755 workers and job seekers across Continental Europe, conducted between May and June of 2022. In fact, 64% of those respondents citing sustainability as being ‘important’ or ‘very important’ also say the absence of a sustainability program would influence their decision on whether to take a job (42% of overall respondents).

When you personal core values match with your employer’s values, you’re likely to be happier and more inspired to do your best work. When your work ethics are aligned, you can feel like you’re making a positive impact in a way that matters to you, leading to greater employee wellbeing.

You’re not only motivated by a pay check, but you’re also intrinsically motivated to do your best work and to help your employer to do well.

The first step to making this happen is to understand what motivates you, and what are your values.

How do you define career success?

Career success can mean many things to many people. Externally, success may look like a big salary, company car, business class travel, fancy title or a fast track up the promotion ladder – and while there’s no denying that these things can be attractive, what also makes us feel successful can be deeply personal and less obvious – and it will most likely change over time.

Some of those less obvious factors that may help you feel successful in your career include your day-to-day role and the fulfillment it brings you, as well as feeling like you ca be your true self at work.

Flexibility is important to 64% of people, who say they value companies that are “open regarding work conditions or flexibility”, providing a healthy work-life balance that acknowledges employees have a life outside of work by offering a hybrid working environment or remote working.

Gender diversity is another important issue, with 69% of people in our survey telling us that being a part of company that practices diversity and inclusion is important to them. Over half (52%) of women say they are in favor of positive discrimination / affirmative action to encourage a more balanced gender distribution in their company.

Organizations that perform well when measured against these metrics are valued highly by workers. Of course, these are just some of the more commonly cited factors that contribute towards career success. Yours may be entirely different. What’s important is that you take the time to think about your own values and definition of career success.

Having a career with an organization that aligns with your personal core values can be the difference between every day being a struggle, and bouncing out of bed each morning, excited to go to work. The trickle-down effect can mean you’re happier, not just in your job, but in all aspects of your life because you’re feeling supported, celebrated, and fulfilled.

If that’s not where you are right now, that’s okay. It’s never too late to make a positive change in your career and your life. Work your way through the exercises above and take a step towards a better way of working. The changes it can have in your life will be worth the effort.