Now that you've identified those values that are of critical importance to your career satisfaction, you can begin to find ways to include them into your work life.

Incorporate Core Values into Your Current Job

You may not be in a position to change the way work is done in your job or to change jobs, but there are other ways you can meld your highest priority values with your situation. If health is one of your values, try organizing a lunch-hour walking group, getting the junk-food machines removed from the lunchroom, or suggesting to your human resources department that it hold a health fair. If you crave more variety, do something as simple as parking on a different side of the complex so you have to walk through other parts of the building. If you have free moments, volunteer to help out in another department now and then. One museum gives its employees time off in exchange for time spent on work-related activities that aren't part of their normal jobs. For example, when an exhibit designer helps stuff gift bags for a fund-raising event sponsored by the development department, the department gets free labor and the designer learns more about fundraising events while interacting with people he may not work with on a day-to-day basis.

Research Workplace Values of Places You'd Like to Work

As you conduct informational interviews or even interview for a new job, try to craft your questions in such a way that the answers will help you determine if your core values mesh with those of your workplace culture. For instance, if you're researching careers in real estate, do the core values of each firm include competition or teamwork, service or structure? Ask job interviewers questions such as: “What words would you use to describe the culture of this organization?” “How would you describe the work style of the group I'd be part of?” For some corporations, creativity and profit come before anything else; for others, social responsibility and collaboration may be high on their value list. Knowing the answers will guide you as you decide whether or not such a workplace would be a good fit for you.

Armed with new information about your priority values, you can now direct your time, energy, and resources into finding careers that you think best fit them. The hardest part will be resisting all of the work and social pressures that can derail you from what you have decided is really important to you. Just remember the words of that astute observer of humanity, Shakespeare: “To thine own self be true.” Now you will add to your self-assessment by looking at your skills and how they impact your career.