The hiring process: values matter

Values vary widely from one company to the next, depending on a multitude of factors: its mission, the services it offers, whether it’s a publicly traded company, its social involvement in the community, etc. All these factors should be very important to you as well, since these are the principles that guide the company’s decisions and operations.

Ensure that your values align with those of the company so your daily work can feel meaningful. If they do, you’ll find yourself working toward a goal you care about, with working conditions you enjoy, at a company you’re proud to be part of.

Visit the company’s website to learn more about its values. This information can often be found in the About section. The company probably highlights keywords in its publications and website to emphasize the ideals that drive it. Doing a quick scan like this will help you confirm whether your values and your future employer’s values are in alignment.

Prepare examples of situations at work in which you applied these values, ahead of your job interview. You will definitely be asked questions about the company’s guiding principles. So instead of being caught off-guard, you will come across as confident and will show yourself to be the right person for the job.

Visit the My Career section of our Advice Zone to find more hiring and career-related tips. A good read might be Ten working conditions that will motivate you to stay.