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3 steps to identifying your values

I was thrilled to get this email from a career coaching client, Tracy. I wanted to share it with you:

Hi Hallie,

I wanted to check in and let you know that I’m better than I have been in a long time.  The same day I resigned from my current job, I received a call to interview with another company.  Yesterday, I officially accepted an offer.  I am thrilled because I went in to the interviews with my defined personal values at the forefront, and I think it’s a great fit…

Thanks,
Tracy

Tracy has already started her new position. Congrats Tracy! I wanted to point out what she said in this email. She went into the interview with her values at the forefront of her mind so she knew this new position would be a fit. Personal values are one of the key ways you can determine whether a job is a fit for you. Take these 3 steps to begin to identify your values:

1) Identify a peak personal experience in your life. Write about it. What was cool or important to you about this experience? What did you enjoy about it so much?

2) Notice the keywords you wrote down that stand out for you as possible values, and themes that you can see in your answers. These are clues to some of your values.

3) How does your current job align with those values? Which are present at your current job and which are not?

This can give you great insight into why your current position may not be a good fit for you. So when you’re interviewing for that next job, keep these values in mind! Write them down. Ask the interviewer specific questions that will help you know whether your values would be honored at that new position or not. These can help you develop great job interview questions too.

Good luck and I hope this is helpful to you!

Hallie Crawford
Career Search Coach

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