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Rutgers Online Career Planning > Assess Yourself > Values Assessment

Values Assessment

Below is a simple values assessment that may help you learn more about your work values. Your results are not likely to provide a final academic or career choice, but may help you discover more about the values you think are important. This information could be shared with your advisors, parents, professors, and/or career counselor to help brainstorm potential college majors and career options.

Read through the statements below and rate the level of importance you place on each area. Click on "click for total scores" at the end of each section and a summary of your scores will be profiled at the end of the inventory. Print out this page when you are done to have a record of your results. We recommend you meet with a career counselor to discuss your results and career plans when you are finished.

This is not a test with right or wrong answers, nor has this inventory been reviewed for reliability or validity. Your results, however, may help you identify important values and become more aware of related college majors and career options.

ACHIEVEMENT

Rate the level of importance for each value listed below from 0 (not important) to 9 (very important):

	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

Click for Total Achievement Score:

CHALLENGE

Rate the level of importance for each value listed below from 0 (not important) to 9 (very important):

	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

Click for Total Challenge Score:

INDEPENDENCE

Rate the level of importance for each value listed below from 0 (not important) to 9 (very important):

	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

Click for Total Independence Score:

MONEY

Rate the level of importance for each value listed below from 0 (not important) to 9 (very important):

	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

Click for Total Money Score:

POWER

Rate the level of importance for each value listed below from 0 (not important) to 9 (very important):

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

Click for Total Power Score:

RECOGNITION

Rate the level of importance for each value listed below from 0 (not important) to 9 (very important):

	Have an impressive job title and high-level status
	Be affiliated with a well known and respected organization
	Have my work recognized and receive financial compensation for my accomplishments
	Be respected by my colleagues for my achievements and contributions
	Have my work acknowledged by promotions

Click for Total Recognition Score:

SERVICE TO OTHERS

Rate the level of importance for each value listed below from 0 (not important) to 9 (very important):

	Help or contribute to the needs of others
	Work for an organization 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

Click for Total Service to Others Score:

VARIETY

Rate the level of importance for each value listed below from 0 (not important) to 9 (very important):

	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

Click for Total Service to Others Score:

SUMMARY OF SCORES

Below is a summary of your scores and an explanation of each area as it relates to college majors and careers. Print out this page for further review.

Although individual work values cannot be neatly coded to college majors and career options, you should explore your top 3 values to learn more about how they relate to your tentative academic and career plans. Bring your printout to discuss your findings with a career counselor at Career Services.

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.

Achievement:		Power:
Challenge:		Recognition:
Independence:		Service to Others:
Money:		Variety:

People who value achievement place importance on attaining their goals. They prefer to accomplish high standards and want to exceed their performance levels. All college majors and career paths offer the opportunity for high achievement.

Individuals who value challenge thrive in environments where complicated projects are common. They enjoy pushing their abilities and confronting difficult projects. All college majors and career paths offer the opportunity for challenge.

Those who enjoy working alone and relying on themselves value independence. They like the solitude and are comfortable working individually. Some college majors and career paths may offer more opportunity for independence. For example, biology may be more consistent with this value than management.

People who value money want to earn large salaries and be well compensated for their efforts. They want to be very comfortable financially. Some college majors and career paths may offer higher salaries. For example, engineering and technical majors and related career paths tend to offer higher starting salaries than liberal arts majors.

Individuals who value power feel good when they are in control and have the ability to influence situations and/or people. They like to be in charge and have a lot of responsibility. Some college majors and career paths may offer more opportunity for power. For example, pharmacy, management, and education majors may be in good positions to pursue career paths with power.

Those who place importance on recognition want others to be aware of their work and accomplishments. It is important for them to feel that their contributions are acknowledged. All college majors and career paths offer the opportunity for recognition.

People who perceive service to others as worthwhile feel it's important to contribute to the good of society. They want to help others and make the world a better place for all. Some college majors and career paths may offer more opportunity to provide services to others. For example, social work, psychology, sociology, and education majors may be more likely to allow you to contribute to the well-being of others.

Individuals who value variety feel a strong need to engage in different kinds of tasks. They like to change projects and get involved in different kinds of work experiences. All college majors offer the opportunity for variety. Some career paths may offer less variety, although most professional-level positions offer many unique experiences.

After you complete the values assessment, go back to "Assess Yourself" and complete the interests and skills assessments. Once you have finished each assessment, go to the next section, "Generate Options," to brainstorm ideas of college majors and careers that might be suitable for you.

Values assessment inspired by University of Minnesota, Morris at http://www.mrs.umn.edu/services/career and "What To Do With The Rest Of Your Life," Catalyst.


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