Self-knowledge in job search

Identifying what is important to you helps clarify what kind of person you want to be, how you want to use your time, what kind of relationships you want to form and care for, what strengths you want to develop, and what causes you want to work for. 

Identifying your own core values can have a significant impact on your quality of life. The more you act in line with your values, the more meaningful your life is likely to feel. When you understand your values and try to act accordingly, you also find the strength and courage to face difficult situations and setbacks in life. Choices that are in line with your values feel right, even if they are not always easy. In this way, values serve you as a support in making life’s decisions. 

Recognising your values is an important step in achieving overall wellbeing and a sense of meaning. How you spend your time reveals a lot about what you value – we usually spend our time on things that are meaningful to us, whether we realise it or not. If how you spend your time does not reflect your true values, everyday life may feel contradictory, stressful, or even empty. 

For example, if you spend your weekend with friends instead of cleaning your home, your values may be more about social relationships than cleanliness. If you spend your evenings working, career success and responsibility may be important values for you right now. On the other hand, if exercise always comes after other plans, then perhaps exercise and health are not as high on your list of values as you thought – or at least they are not reflected in the choices you make day-to-day. 

When planning your time based on your values, it is useful to start by reflecting on what is truly important to you. Take a moment to consider: do your values show up concretely in your weekly routine? If not, even small changes to your daily routines can help ensure that your everyday life supports living according to your values. This way, you can use your time in a way that is true to yourself, and your daily life will feel more meaningful. 

Values are not just empty words, but have real-life consequence. Value conflicts are one of the main causes of burnout at work. You may face a value conflict if, for example, you have to do things at work that you find unethical or against your own values. A conflict can also occur if you value family and free time more than work, but your job takes all your energy. To identify and avoid value conflicts, you first need to be aware of your own values. 

When you work in an organisation or field that matches your values, you can be your true self and express yourself openly. This increases wellbeing and commitment at work. 

By recognising your values and understanding what is meaningful and important to you, you can guide your career in a direction that fits your values. 

When you work in tasks and environments that match your values, enthusiasm and commitment are often greater. Motivation helps you be productive, develop your skills, and reach your goals. 

Values provide guidance when making decisions. When you know your own values, you can make career decisions more easily and consistently. You can assess job opportunities, projects, and employers by how well they match your values. This helps you avoid conflicting situations, and makes decision-making easier. 

Can you identify any work situations in which you have experienced a conflict of values?

• What do these situations say about your values?

• How could you avoid conflicts of values in the future?

Motivation is a central force in job searching and career planning. It guides your choices, keeps you going, and helps you cope with challenges. However, motivation does not appear out of nowhere – it is influenced by your values, goals, and your understanding of what truly inspires and drives you. 

Motivation can be explained using Self-Determination Theory (Ryan & Deci), which suggests that real and lasting motivation comes when three basic psychological needs are met. 

The experience of directing your own life, making your own choices, and influencing outcomes. The need for autonomy is especially strong in job searching: you can plan the direction you want to go, decide which jobs to apply for, and what kind of work communities support your growth. Job searching and career planning have become more and more self-directed – you are your own guide. A strong sense of self-direction increases commitment and long-term wellbeing, as you feel in control of your life and career. 

The feeling that you are capable, skilled, and able to produce results. In job searching, competence means believing in your own abilities, being able to prepare for new challenges, and having the courage to take them on. As you recognise your strengths and build your skills, your self-confidence also grows. This self-confidence is visible to others: employers value candidates who believe in their abilities and can show their potential. Competence boosts your ability to act and lowers the barrier to learning and advancing in your career. 

The sense of belonging to a community, and feeling that your contribution matters to others. Job searching and starting a new job become more meaningful and purposeful when you find your place as part of a team and a wider professional network. 

•  In what situations does work feel truly meaningful to you? 

• When are you able to make your own decisions and use your creativity? 

• What strengths do you want to use and develop? 

• In what environments do you feel you belong? 

When you keep these needs in mind while planning your career and searching for jobs, you are more likely to find roles and workplaces where autonomy, competence and relatedness are present. This helps you discover more meaningful work and build lasting motivation. Knowing yourself is the key: the better you understand your motives, the more likely you are to move your career in a direction that supports both your wellbeing and your success. 

Think about your personal story and answer these questions: 

1. Think about the last time you laughed at work. How did it feel? How did it impact your interactions?
2. Think about the last you felt helpless at work. Did the others sense your mood? How did it impact your work and communication?
3. Think about the last time you felt satisfaction at work with your results. How did it affect your work motivation and the interactions with your colleagues?
4. Think about the last time you felt angry at work. Why were you angry? How did it affect the interaction with your colleagues?
5. Think about the last time you felt proud of your work and colleagues. How did that pride impact your colleagues and your work motivation?
6. Think about the last time you felt disappointed in your work and colleagues. How did that disappointment affect your colleagues and your work motivation? 

In thinking about these situations above, make a list of 5 qualities or strengths and weaknesses you have. Then write beside each quality/strength/weakness: 

• Why it is helpful in a workplace?
• How might others perceive this quality?
• When does this quality normally help you or your colleagues?
• Are there any specific strengths that could help you to develop and turn weaknesses into strengths?
• What behaviours or actions should you take to work on your weaknesses?
• Who or what could help you?

1. What do you value in your work?
Write down things, details, and broader aspects that you are satisfied with in your current or previous work, internship, summer job, projects, or work-related studies.

These things can be small (for example, nice colleagues, an inspiring workspace, equipment) or bigger (for example, the possibility to influence your own tasks or develop your professional skills).

You can also write down things that affect your wellbeing in your private life, such as flexible working hours, the possibility to work remotely, balancing work/studies and free time, support services, or different employee benefits.

Write down 3–5 things:
1.   I value…
2.   
3.   
4.   
5.  

2. What are you grateful for in relation to your work?
Describe what things make you especially grateful about your work, studies, internship, projects, work placements, or work-related learning.  
You can mention, for example:  

• The chance to learn new things, develop your skills, and meet new people
• The possibility to find your own field or way of working
• Support from teachers or supervisors, receiving feedback
• A safe environment to try new things and make mistakes
• Contacts for your future career
• An encouraging atmosphere at work or experiences that are important to you  

Write down 2–4 things:
1.   I am grateful that...
2.   
3.  

Additional question:
How could you strengthen these experiences of appreciation and gratitude in your everyday life and working life in the future?

Instructions for the exercise:

Values act as anchors—they keep you steady and on the right course even when you encounter changes in your life. The values that are important to you also serve as anchors in your career. Career anchors are long-term, relatively stable motivations and needs that guide your career choices and influence what makes you feel satisfied in your work.

1. Identifying your values

• What are your most important values?

2. Clarifying your values through writing

• What observations did you make about relationships?
• What observations did you make about leisure time?
• What observations did you make about work and study?
• What observations did you make about personal growth and health?

3. What are your three most important career anchors?

• How have they manifested themselves or been realized in your career so far?
• How would you like the values that are important to you to be reflected in your future career?

Start small: take a look at the self-knowledge and motivation exercises below. These will help you clarify what interests you, what you value at work, what feels meaningful to you right now, and what strengths you have. Even a small new insight can move you towards more active job searching.

Job searching can involve feelings of uncertainty, anxiety, or frustration. It’s good to notice these emotions and give yourself permission to feel them. The section on Job Search and Emotions offers more on how different feelings can affect your job search – and how to manage them. 

You are not alone! If you experience a lack of motivation, talking with friends, fellow students or family can lighten your mood and offer new perspectives. Peer support often helps you see that many others have similar feelings. 

At Metropolia, our career coaches are here to support you and offer a confidential space to discuss your situation. You do not need to have your whole job search planned to book a counselling appointment – in fact, it can be most helpful when everything feels unclear. Together with a counsellor, you can structure your situation, identify your sources of motivation, and find practical tools and new ways to approach your job search. 

Book an appointment for career guidance through Metropolia's Job Teaser platform.

Motivation comes and goes – the most important thing is that you do not face feelings of despair or inadequacy on your own. Looking for a job is a process; you do not need to get everything perfect – even taking the first small step is enough.