Your values, formed through your life experiences, are the things you feel most strongly about. For career planning, values generally refer to the things we most desire in a career in relation to how we want to live. For example, some people value job security, money, structure, and a regular schedule. Others value flexibility, excitement, independence, variety, or a particular work environment such as the outdoors. Some career choices pay higher salaries than others but may require hard work and long hours.

Thus, knowing your personal wishes and needs in relation to your values is important. You might find that what you value most is not money, but rather the chance to work for a specific cause or the opportunity to have a particular lifestyle. In general, being aware of what you value is important because a career choice that is closely related to your core values is likely to be the best choice.