Personal Branding For Job Seekers Step 2: From Values to Vision
Previous articles in this series:
Alright y’all, let’s keep it going.
In my last post, I gave you some tips and tools for uncovering your skills and strengths. In this step, I’ll cover how to define your values and passions, and help you clarify what you want and don’t want for your next role.
Core Values
Core values are the fundamental beliefs and unspoken rules that make up our perception of reality and serve as the internal navigation system that guides our attitudes, behaviors, and actions. Our values define who we are, what we stand for, and what a good life looks like. As a job seeker, knowing your core values can help you find companies aligned with your worldview.
According to Mark Manson, author of, “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck,”
“We are defined by what we choose to find important in our lives. We are defined by our prioritizations. If money matters more than anything, then that will come to define who we are. If getting laid and smoking J’s is the most important thing in our life, that will come to define who we are. And if we feel like shit about ourselves and believe we don’t deserve love, success, or intimacy, then that will also come to define who we are — through our actions, our words, and our decisions.”
Mark also distinguishes between “good” (healthy) values and “bad” (unhealthy) values in the following ways:
Good Values are:
Evidence-based
Constructive
Achieved internally (within your control)
They allow you to authentically engage with the world as it is, rather than how you wish it to be, and focus on the only thing you can really control: your actions.
Examples: honesty, building something new, vulnerability, standing up for yourself, standing up for others, self-respect, curiosity, charity, humility, creativity.
Bad Values are:
Emotion-based
Destructive
Reliant on external things and events (uncontrollable)
They warp your perception of reality and motivate you to try and force the world around you to conform to your rules. This almost always leads to high stress, regular disappointment, ongoing frustration, and a lack of fulfillment.
Examples: dominating others through manipulation or violence, feeling good all the time (not possible), always being the center of attention, not being alone, being liked by everybody, being rich for the sake of being rich, sacrificing small animals to the pagan gods (lol).
Set aside some time to identify your top 5 “good” values and clearly define what each one means to you. I’ve listed some free assessments below, and the following questions can also help uncover both your values and passions:
What does a meaningful life look like to me?
At what times in my life have I been happiest and why?
What do I want more of and why?
What do I want less of and why?
How do I define right from wrong?
Who has inspired me and why? What qualities do/did they have?
What traits and behaviors do I admire in others?
How do I like to be treated?
What makes me angry?
What brings me joy?
What breaks my heart?
What excites me?
What bores me?
Who do I want to become?
What would my life look like if my values were met?
Free Values Assessments:
Pinpoint Your Passions
Now let’s talk about your passions. This is pretty straightforward and you should include anything you get excited about. Refer to the questions above if you need a little inspiration.
So, what lights your fire? What topics or activities make you lose track of time? Consider:
Work tasks you enjoy the most
Hobbies that you enjoy
Causes you care about
Deal Breakers & Dream Job
Don’t worry y’all, we’re almost done.
The last thing we’re going to do is create two lists: Deal Breakers and Dream Job.
The first list helps you identify red flags to look for in a company or role, and the second is for green flags.
This is a crucial step in focusing your job search and increasing your chances of finding a role that is fulfilling and aligned with your long-term career goals. Be aware that employers are searching for specific candidates who are a great fit for the company culture and will stick around for a long time. To be that kind of candidate, you have to know what helps you thrive and what burns you out. That way, when you find a company that’s the right fit, your genuine enthusiasm will make it easy to make a good first impression and stand out as a candidate.
The core values and passions exercises should have given you some ideas for these lists. You should also think about what you want and don’t want in terms of:
Role and responsibilities
Compensation, benefits, and perks (i.e. flexible hours, student loan repayment, free lunch, childcare, unlimited PTO, gym memberships, pet-friendly offices, travel discounts, 24 weeks paid paternity leave, etc.)
Company culture and values
Work life balance
Opportunities for professional growth
Leadership and management
Location and remote work policies
Deal Breakers:
What will you absolutely not tolerate in your next job?
This is the MOST important of these two lists. It should contain everything you know you hate in a job, and everything you know would make you miserable even if you haven’t experienced it first hand. And when I say “deal breaker” I mean “DEAL BREAKER.” That means if a job offer includes even one deal breaker it’s an automatic “No” unless you can negotiate it out.
Dream Job:
What would be amazing to have as part of your job? What kinds of things will bring you long-term satisfaction? What kind of role and environment would help you thrive?
You’re Done With Step 2, Yay!
You’re almost done with crafting your personal brand.
The last piece involves identifying your target audience and their pain points, and creating a Unique Value Proposition that positions you as the solution to their problem.
I’ll cover this in my next post and include relevant examples, tools, prompts, and templates to help.
