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What Are Your Values?

Each person has several values that are important to him or her. Your values might not be the same as your friends or coworkers. There are many things to value.

Values are ideas that are important to you.

Examples of personal values include:

  • Education
  • Spirituality or religion
  • Family
  • Art or creativity
  • Financial success
  • Relationships
  • Justice
  • Independence
  • Safety
  • Fame or recognition

Your values can change in importance at different times in your life. Think about your values regularly and decide what is most important at that time.

For example:

  • If you have young children at home, "time with the family" may be an important value. You might want a job that allows you to be home in the evenings and on weekends so you can be with your children.
  • If you are single, "travel and independence" may be important values. You might want a job that allows you to travel and spend time in other cities.

Not every value will be satisfied each day at your job. However, you should be able to have a job that matches your most important values most of the time.

Next Steps:

  • To help you think about which values are more important to you at work, complete this Match Your Values to Occupations exercise on the Job Seekers Guide website. This exercise will help you think about which careers match your values. You can write on the page and then print it out. What you write on the page will not be saved on the computer.
  • Add your top values to your career plan.