How to Answer “What Are Your Values?” in an Interview
UpJourney Issue [Click for full Article]
Answer with clarity and confidence
Our values guide our path on our journey in life. It helps us stay grounded and focused on our goals and what matters to us.
Our values dictate:
how we show up,
how we behave, and
how we connect and interact with others day in and day out.
In a recent podcast interview, the host asked me to share my entrepreneurial identity. I paused a moment and replied with:
“I find my identity through my values.”
I followed up with my top three:
Connection – to be mindfully present with others and engage fully in whatever I am doing,
Challenge – it is important that I keep challenging myself to learn, grow and improve, and
Authenticity – to be genuine and always true to myself.
Instead of telling the host what I do, I answered with my values to show them “who I am.”
In a job interview, when asked, “What are your values?” it is best to answer with clarity and confidence because this can determine whether your work ethics, behavior, and personality align with the company’s work culture.
Be prepared to provide at least three of your top values
Be prepared to provide at least three of your top values to present what is important to you.
A person who values “trust” and “honesty” knows the importance of loyalty and trustworthiness, which are central to having integrity. If you value “creativity“, you are stimulated by being innovative and prefer to think outside the box.
“Equality” and “justice” display a person’s high regard for the mutual recognition of each other’s basic dignity and to treat others equally.
These simple words can provide so much insight as it gives the interviewer a glimpse of who you are as an employee, colleague, and human being.
Choose a job that meets your values
Just as the interviewer is looking for someone who can fulfill the job description and match their work culture, it is just as important that you, as the interviewee, choose a job that meets your values.
When your work does not align with your values, this can lead to boredom, dissatisfaction, low productivity, burn-out, and even depression.
For example, the job doesn’t offer opportunities for “growth” when you value “challenge.”
On the other hand, when you work at a place where your values are met, you will feel motivated, inspired, and productive. This can lead to your overall success and happiness.
