It is natural, when considering a career change, to reflect on our skills and experience and to ask ourselves which opportunities might be available. Our abilities and background often define the broader fields in which we can work, offering us a range of possibilities. However, neither skills nor experience alone will determine whether a new career will truly bring us fulfilment. The most important factor to consider when navigating a career change is our personal values.
What are values?
Values are the principles that guide us in determining what is right and how to respond in different situations. They represent what truly matters to us — what is important, what we prioritise, believe in, and give our attention to. Our values influence our actions — or our decision not to act — and are a key source of motivation. They form the foundation of our choices and help shape our worldview, belief system, and attitudes.
Each of us develops a unique set of personal values that influence how we feel about the work we do and the contribution we make to society. When we pursue a career within an organisation whose demands or culture conflict with our values, it becomes difficult to feel truly satisfied with our choice. Conversely, when our work aligns with our personal values, we are far more likely to experience a sense of fulfilment and achieve lasting success in our career.
That’s why, before making a career change, it’s essential to reflect on the following:
1. Identifying our values
First and foremost, we need to discover our core values. Identifying personal values is one of the very first steps I take with my clients, as many people find it difficult to articulate them clearly. So, how do we uncover the values that truly guide us? It helps to ask ourselves the following reflective questions and draw out the values from our answers:
What is most important to me when it comes to my career?
What do I want to achieve through my work?
What brings me genuine happiness at work?
What actions do I take that contribute to that happiness?
What have been the most fulfilling or satisfying moments in my career so far?
What do I naturally focus on in my professional life?
What do I most identify with in the workplace?
2. Evaluating our values
Once we’ve identified our values through the previous reflections, the next step is to evaluate their importance. We do this by ranking them on a scale from 1 to 10 — with 1 representing the values that matter most to us, and 10 those that hold less weight. After completing this step, we review the values we ranked as most important and select the top five values that carry the most weight when considering a career change. These will serve as our guiding principles, helping us ensure that our next career move is both meaningful and aligned with who we truly are.
3. Reviewing our values
While our values tend to remain consistent as we grow and evolve, they can also shift over time. That’s why it’s important to revisit them whenever we’re considering a job change, a new role, or a transition to a different organisation. Regularly reviewing our values helps ensure that our career choices continue to align with what truly matters to us.
Having clarity around our personal values enables us to better understand what truly matters to us in our careers. Once we evaluate our own values, it becomes far easier to navigate a career change, choose a path that genuinely suits us, or make informed decisions about accepting or declining a promotion. Even within the same profession, not every job will align with our professional values. When reviewing a job offer, it is essential to consider whether the employer’s organisational culture resonates with our own values and principles.
When the work we do aligns with our personal values, we’re more likely to see it as meaningful — and to feel valued and fulfilled ourselves. Conversely, when our work conflicts with what truly matters to us, dissatisfaction and unhappiness at work are almost inevitable. If you feel inspired to explore and identify your own values, I warmly invite you to book a career coaching session. In these sessions, you’ll be guided with care and clarity to uncover the principles that drive you, and to connect them with the decisions that shape your professional future. By investing in this self-discovery, you are not only taking an important step in your career development, but also creating the foundation for a life lived with purpose, confidence, and alignment to who you truly are.
