LET’S CHECK!

ACTIVITY 3

It is significant to know one’s values system and reflect on how it affects your overall
behavior and attitude. For this activity you are required to answer the work values instrument
attached with this module. This instrument is adopted form Marianne Able Career Service Center,
Philadelphia University.

What are you looking for in a job? What is important to you personally and can you find it through
the work that you do?

Job satisfaction is determined more by how your values align with a work environment than by any
other factor; therefore, it is important to take the time to analyze the following list of common
workplace values to clarify where your priorities lie. Rate the degree of importance that you place
on each of the following workplace values using this scale:

4 = Extremely important | My job must have this feature in order to ensure satisfaction.
3 = Important | I’d like to have a job with this feature, but I can live without it if necessary.
2 = Not important | Having this feature would be a nice bonus, but I don’t need it.
1 = Not necessary | This feature won’t impact my job satisfaction in any way.

3 Advancement – Clear advancement tracks within the organization or ample opportunities

for promotion.

3 Autonomy – The ability to do things on your own, at your own pace, and in line with your
own standards.

3 Balance – The ability to avoid conflicts between family considerations, career objectives, and
individual goals.

4 Benefits – Access to the use of health insurance, a retirement plan, stock options, fitness club
memberships, etc.

3 Challenge – The opportunity to overcome difficult obstacles and solve difficult problems.

4 Commute – The amount of time you are willing to spend traveling to and from your place
of employment.

Page 1 of 4
3 Company Loyalty – Receiving awards for your dependability and long-term contributions.

2 Competition – Having a high degree of competition with the organization you work for or
between rival organizations.

2 Creativity – The ability to make something that has not previously existed; being able
to identify new approaches to doing something.

3 Decision Making – Having power to decide course of action.

3 Excitement – Working in an environment that takes you beyond standard comfort levels.

3 Expertise – Possessing specific abilities or knowledge not common to other employees.

3 Family – Having the flexibility for family life within the framework of the work
environment (for example, hours and vacation time amenable to having a
family).

1 Flexibility – The ability to adjust schedules, routines, and procedures without seeking
approval.

3 Honesty – Working in an environment where there is an expectation of truth.

1 Hours – Having set hours with little requirement for overtime.

1 Independence – Being able to perform daily functions unsupervised.

3 Innovation – Having the ability to use cutting edge or pioneering technologies or techniques.

3 Intellectual Stimulation – Work which provides opportunity for independent thinking and
for learning how and why things work.

3 Interpersonal Contact – Having frequent day-to-day contact with the public, co-workers, or
others.

3 Leadership – Having the opportunity and capacity to guide and shepherd others.

3 Leisure – Having the ability to allocate personal time for such things as relationships
and hobbies.
4 Order – Having structure and clear lines of communication within an organization.

4 Organizational Ethics – Working for an employer who values integrity and honesty.

3 Parking Availability – The ability to drive to work and to park there without significant
hassle or expense.

3 Peace – Being in an environment that offers tranquility, comfort, and where you can avoid
pressure.

3 Personal Growth – Having opportunities for self-exploration at work that contribute to

other areas of your life.

Page 2 of 4
3 Physical Challenge – Conquering challenges through the use of physical capacity.

3 Power – Having opportunities for influence within your profession, field, or organization.

1 Precision – Work that requires attention to detail and has low lenience for error.

2 Pressure – Having constant deadlines, time demands, and challenges.

3 Prestige – Being viewed by others with honor; being acknowledged as an “expert” in your
field.

3 Pride – Having self-respect and taking personal satisfaction in completed work.

3 Professional Growth – Having opportunities for on-going learning and development within
your specific profession.

3 Public Transportation – Having access to timely, efficient, and affordable community-funded

transportation.

3 Recognition – Receiving visible and public notice for achievements, work tasks, academic
honors, community service, etc.

3 Respect – Having a sense of value and worth to the organization.

2 Risk – Having the willingness to forego security to achieve a desired goal.

3 Routine – Work that provides an environment with predictable work projects and tasks.

3 Safety – Having a workplace and surrounding neighborhood free from violence and crime.

4 Salary – Work which pays well, offers periodic raises, and enables a comfortable standard
of living.

4 Security – Being assured of job stability, salary, and/or benefits.

3 Service – Contributing to the well-being of others.

3 Social Atmosphere – Forming friendships and warm working relationships within

the organization.

3 Social Contribution – Positively influencing others and society as a whole through your work.

3 Stability – Working in an unchanging, predictable career field.

3 Status – Achieving a level of prestige, respect, admiration, or glamour as a result of your work.

3 Team Environment – Relying on teamwork and group efforts to achieve results.

3 Travel – Having the opportunity to go to different geographic locations to accomplish

your job.

Page 3 of 4
2 Variety – Work which provides an opportunity to do different types of tasks, and being free
from routine.

3 Visual Results – Creating or building things; producing tangible results.

Now that you’ve examined a number of values and rated them according to their
importance, it is time to narrow down those values that are most important to you. Go back through
the list star those you would consider to be your top 10 most important values.

For the final step of this exercise, narrow your list of 10 values to your 5 highest priority
values – think of these core values as those that you absolutely would not be able to work without.
List them below in the space provided in order with 1 being your highest priority value:

1. Order
2. Organizational Ethics
3. Benefits
4. Security
5. Salary

Congratulations! You now have a list of your core workplace values that represent
who you are and what you find most important about work. These core values will
very likely determine your level of satisfaction in your chosen career field.

As you look to the future and consider how you might use this information when choosing a major or
career path, use the following questions to guide your reflection and record your responses below:

1. How does each of these identified values guide you in your chosen course, career, and
or aspirations?
Through this, I can distinguish the type of long-term work will enter into. This will help me avoid me toxic
environment or workplaces. It enables me to set boundaries and know my worth based on my skills and character.
Thus, I would not risk my health both mental and physical, even if it offers a high- paying salary.

2. How do these identified work values evoke conflict with the work values expected and
needed to the course/ profession you are pursuing? What would you to do resolve
these conflicts?
Realistically speaking, many workplaces have toxic environments. You work with people who have different principles
come from diverse cultures. However, if you have self-awareness, you can set boundaries. You’ll know what values you
uphold and how to decline situations where the values in your workplace do not align with your own.

Page 4 of 4