Your Values Can Help You Find the Job of Your Dreams

You’re ready for the next big move in your career. Your current gig works, but you really want a job you love. A position that lets your authentic leadership capabilities shine, and feels oh-so-meaningful. In order to land a job that feels dreamy, try holding your values at the center of the job hunting process.

Values are the mile markers of purpose. They are a mostly unspoken way of living that gives meaning to our lives. To find a gig that truly lights you up, put your values front and center.

[Related: Happiness Hacks to Reinvigorate Your Workday]

Know thy values.

First things first: What are your values? I’m not necessarily talking the tried-and-true values you were raised upon, but the tenants of what is deeply and personally meaningful to you. Collaboration, spontaneity, tenacity, integrity, adventure, compassion. You can find values lists a mile long online, but it’s important you identify the words or phrases that are intensely significant to you. These are the bedrock of who you are and what makes you tick.

If you’re having trouble identifying them, think of a moment in life where you felt particularly fulfilled. Who were you being, what was happening around you, and what felt important about this moment in your life? Share this story with a friend and have them string together words that are popping.

Cross-reference.

With reaffirming clarity of your own values, start to look for positions and organizations that complement them. Review organizational missions, corporate giving partners and practices, client rosters, and employee benefits. Then, cross-reference how they align with what’s on your personal values list. The more similarities, the better!

Another quick way to know if you’re jiving with a company is to note how your body feels when you’re learning about the organization or position. When we’re living meaningfully, putting our values front and center, we feel incredibly alive, lit up, and energized. Check what’s going on with you both physically and emotionally throughout the experience of job hunting for deeper insight into somatic alignment. We often don’t give our bodies enough credit for the information they provide.

Own ‘em.

As you start landing those big interviews, be prepared to share your strengths and experiences as they pertain to your values and the values of the organization. If collaboration is a core value that makes both you and the organization tick, showcase examples of how your collaborative nature has shaped who you are and the effects of any dynamic contributions across your career. Be curious about how collaboration fits as a centerpiece of the organization and your potential new role, and be sure to highlight whatever synergies you see across your own resume.

[Related: How to Find Happiness Through Your Strengths]

Show up.

At every stage of the process, from resume submission to interview to offer negotiation, stand strong in the importance of your values. Affirm to yourself that this opportunity will help you live more meaningfully, as it is aligned with what’s most important to you. Remember that this will allow you to do greater, more impactful work. Relish the power of getting to do work that feels true to who you are at each stage of the process, and watch how magically opportunities can unfold.

[Related: Four More Job Search Myths Busted]

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Jessica Edwards is a Certified Co-Active Coach. She draws on her background in advertising communications and leadership/organizational development to champion her clients toward clarity of purpose in their professional and personal lives. If you’re curious to learn more, check out jessicaedwardscoaching.com.