If you’re feeling stuck in your career, one of the best places to start is to identify your values.
Values are the principles and priorities that matter most to you – things like growth, balance, creativity, collaboration or freedom. They’re not just “work values”; they’re part of who you are as a person. And if your career doesn’t support them, frustration and burnout are much more likely.
Why values matter in your career
Your values act like a compass. They guide the decisions you make, the opportunities you chase, and how fulfilled you feel day to day.
When your job aligns with your values, you feel energised, motivated and engaged. When it doesn’t, you might notice yourself becoming disillusioned, questioning your choices, or losing motivation over time.
That’s why understanding your values is so important if you’re feeling stuck at work or considering a career change.
How to spot a company’s values
Most employers publish their values online – often under About Us, Our Mission, or Core Values. That might be an OK starting point, but it’s only part of the picture.
Check whether employees’ behaviours match the company’s stated values. For example:
• Do people who work there behave in ways that match the values?
• Does the company talk about diversity, but only hire the same type of people again and again?
• Do they say they value collaboration, yet people you know who work there say it’s overly competitive?
Social media can sometimes give us clues. Some organisations share “behind the scenes” photos, employee Q&As, or community projects. While it’s still polished content, you’ll get a sense of what they want to project – and whether it feels authentic.
The best insight often comes directly from real people inside the business. If you can, reach out to people who work at companies you’re interested in and ask simple, human questions:
• What’s your favourite thing about working here?
• What’s the biggest challenge?
• How would you describe the culture in a sentence?
Discovering your own values
To work out your own values, try this quick exercise:
Look at a list of common values (growth, drive, balance, integrity, respect, freedom, etc.).
Rate each from 1–5 for how important it is to you.
Narrow it down to your top two – the ones you couldn’t live without.
Reflect on why those two stand out. What do they say about your needs, your ambitions, your ideal work environment?
When I first did this, I found it hard to choose just two. I ended up picking growth and connectedness. Growth because I love learning and moving forward. Connectedness because building meaningful relationships in all aspects of my life is incredibly important to me.
Interestingly, having done this exercise with hundreds of clients over the years, I’ve noticed that it’s rare – if ever – that two people pick exactly the same combination. Even people with very similar backgrounds often choose different values.
How knowing your values helps your career
Once you know your values, you can use them to help make decisions.
Knowing your values can help you:
• Choose roles and companies where you’ll thrive
• Avoid jobs that might look good on paper but don’t feel right
• Write stronger applications and interviews by showing why you’re a good fit
• Build deeper connections with colleagues who share your priorities
• Stay motivated and engaged in your role for longer
If you’re unhappy at work, take a step back and ask: does this job align with what really matters to me?
Knowing your values can help give you clarity, articulate what makes you unique, and give you confidence that you’re moving in the right direction.
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