Values Assessment

This values assessment exercise is devised to help you learn more about your work values. It may help you to clarify and discover more about the values you think are important. You may use this information as you proceed to pursue a course of study or to find a career of your choice.

Be reminded that this is not a standardised test that has been validated for validity or reliability. So obtaining a score will not indicate how you are measured against a norm. There are no right or wrong answers nor do higher scores indicate a better person or performance. The results, however, can be seen as guidelines that may help you identify important values and become more aware of related college majors and career options.

Scoring

Assign a score from 0 (not important) - 9 (very important) to each value instance or preference listed below and then sum them up for each value category:

Achievement

Have the opportunity to advance to a high-level position [ ]
Attain a high level of competence in my work [ ]
See the end results of my work [ ]
Set and accomplish goals on a regular basis [ ]
Master new information and skills [ ]

Score:

Challenge

Solve difficult problems [ ]
Handle assignments that require me to learn new concepts [ ]
Tackle assignments others prefer to avoid [ ]
Accomplish difficult results [ ]
Avoid work that is easy [ ]

Score:

Independence

Operate independently with minimal supervision [ ]
Depend primarily on myself for getting the job done [ ]
Work alone a great percentage of the time [ ]
Set my own goals and schedule [ ]
Make the final decisions on work that I do [ ]

Score

Money

Have a level of income that affords me luxuries [ ]
Obtain financial security [ ]
Possess an unlimited potential for income [ ]
Have a high level of fringe benefits and perks [ ]
Be financially independent [ ]

Score:

Power

See things happen as a result of my efforts [ ]
Use my leadership abilities to influence the direction of an organisation [ ]
Supervise/direct the work of others [ ]
Oversee large projects, significant amounts of money, or large numbers of people [ ]
Control the outcome of events [ ]

Score:

Recognition

Have an impressive job title and high-level status [ ]
Be affiliated with a well known and respected organisation [ ]
Have my work recognised for my accomplishments
Be respected by my colleagues for my achievements and contributions [ ]
Have my work acknowledged by promotions [ ]

Score:

Service to Others

Help or contribute to the needs of others [ ]
Work for an organisation that benefits society [ ]
Make the world a better place in which to live [ ]
Provide useful services to others [ ]
Help those who are less fortunate than I [ ]

Score:

Variety

Work in different environments regularly [ ]
Have many unique responsibilities [ ]
Avoid routine activities [ ]
Modify my job responsibilities on occasion [ ]
Have work that exposes me to new situations, people and ideas regularly [ ]

Score:

Your Scores

Achievement____
Challenge____
Independence____
Money____
Power____
Recognition____
Service to Others_____
Variety____

Begin by exploring your top 2 to 3 values to learn more about how they relate to your tentative academic and career plans. Note that interpreting the scores is not a strait forward business, you may want to share your scores with a career counsellor to explore more in-depth your values and the the study or work paths that are consistent with them. For example, when you scores are evenly distributed between the value categories, it may then be hard to highlight your values, you probably need further probing with an experienced person. Or, for example, if "power" is an important value and you are considering management for a college major, then your plans seem consistent with your values. However, if "money" is a top value and you are considering social work for a college major, then you may wish to explore this further as social work tends to offer lower salaries than other fields.

Values and Study/Career Paths

Achievement

place importance on attaining their goals regardless of their nature.
need to maintain high standards and go for continuous improvements.
will find expressions of their values in academic pursuits and in professional career development.

Challenge

thrive in dealing with novel or adverse environments that may involve risk.
They enjoy the thrill of overcoming difficult challenges.
likely to flourish in academic pursuit and careers that require dealings with an open or uncertain environment.

Independence

enjoy solitude and are comfortable working independent of other people.
may see working with other people as a hindrance.
will find expression in disciplines in which one does not work closely wit others such as field biology or writing.

Money

want to earn large salaries and be well compensated for their efforts.
need for very comfortable financially.
possible study and career paths are in finance and other higher starting salary professional careers.

Power

thrive in situations where they can exert control and have influence situations/people
like to be in charge and have a lot of responsibility.
may find value expression in politics, law, management, administration, and education.

Recognition

want others to be aware of their work and accomplishments.
need to feel that their contributions are acknowledged.
will likely to find studies and work that lead to public appreciation such as performing arts, communications, and public services rewarding

Service

perceive service to others as worthwhile.
feel it's important to contribute to the good of society.
want to help others and make the world a better place for all.
will find satisfaction in work and disciplines that connect people such as social work, psychology, sociology, and education.

Variety

feel a strong need to engage in different kinds of tasks.
like to change projects and get involved in different kinds of work experiences.
may find expression in studies and careers that are based on developing trends such as design, fashion, science and trading.

Values Assessment Source:
Careerservices. Rutgers New Brunswick University