Values not resolutions
It's that time of year when many of us make New Year's resolutions, or, at the very least, we take a moment to review the recently concluded year and to think ahead. I'm not big on the former, but I do take time to think about my values each year and how my actions and plans reflect them.
Clarifying your own values is so important as you launch into a job search. Understanding what you value will help you look for a workplace that shares those values. Most companies and organizations include their values prominently on their websites so it's easy to get a glimpse into what they profess. It's a little harder, sometimes, to determine what the reality is. Here are some thoughts on what to look for in assessing a company's values. As you explore other values, go beyond what the company says to examine what they actually do to determine if this is a real value and not just public relations. Three common corporate values are family, diversity, and community.
Family. If they value family, do they have parental leave policies for both parents? If there are two parents, are they both given paid leave for birth or adoption? Do people take it? (This is especially a question around heterosexual couples where the father often doesn't take all or some of the parental leave.) Does the company subsidize or offer childcare? The single greatest issue keeping women out of the workforce right now is the lack of good childcare. And if a business claims that everyone (including you) is “family,” please pause. You have a family already — your family of origin and/or your family of choice.
Diversity. If they value diversity — of all kinds — look at the leadership and the new hires. And remember that diversity includes gender identity, sexual orientation, race, and age (among other things).
Community. If they value community, how do they show this? I spent many years in the nonprofit sector. If a corporation isn't allowing its employees to serve on nonprofit boards, to take company time to volunteer, and isn't financially supporting nonprofits, then I'd question this value. In Portland, Maine, where I live, we are lucky to have amazing businesses that put their money where their mouths are. Places like Slalom, LL Bean, Luke's Lobster are leaders in valuing community.
And if you're seeking our help in your job search, you deserve to know our values, too. Cardigan Associates prioritizes four values:
Kindness: Caring for each other is the most important thing we do.
Gratitude: Grateful for opportunities, friends and family who support, leaders who listen, clients who partner with us.
Honesty: We recognize that each person's experiences and skills are unique which means each person's career path is unique. We won't sugarcoat how hard it is to find a new job or make a career change.
Learning: Valuing learning means understanding that we can always improve and adapt.
I hope you'll see that we live these values as well as highlight them on our website. Happy New Year!
