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 kinds of relationships you want to build and maintain, what strengths you want to develop in yourself, and what kinds of things you want to work for. 

Recognising your own values can improve your quality of life.
The more you act in line with your values, the:

• more meaningful your life tends to feel 
• easier it is to make choices that support your wellbeing 
• more strength and courage you have to face even difficult situations

Value-based decisions can sometimes be hard, but they still feel right.
That is why values are an important support in both big and small life choices – including career decisions.

Values are visible in practice in how you use your time. We often spend more time on things that are truly important to us – even if we talk about valuing something else.

If the way you spend your time does not reflect your own values, everyday life can feel conflicted, stressful, empty, or meaningless.

Examples of values and time use

• If your weekend goes to spending time with friends instead of cleaning, you may value social relationships more than tidiness. 
• If you spend your evenings working, career success and responsibility may be important values for you. 
• If exercise is repeatedly pushed aside by other plans, health and wellbeing may not show up in your everyday choices as strongly as you think.

How to examine your values through your use of time?
Ask yourself:

• What things are truly important to me? 
• Do these values show up in my calendar and weekly rhythm? 
• What do I currently spend most of my time and energy on?

If your values are not visible in everyday life, you can make small changes:

• schedule time in your calendar for things you consider important (e.g. rest, friends, hobbies, studying) 
• reduce activities that do not feel meaningful 
• look at what you say “yes” to and what you say “no” to

This way, your use of time will better support a life in line with your values, and your everyday life can feel more like your own and more meaningful.

A value conflict is a situation where your everyday actions and your own values are on a collision course. In working life, value conflicts are one important background factor in burnout.

A value conflict may arise, for example, when:

• you have to do things at work that you find ethically wrong 
• the operating practices at your workplace feel unfair to you 
• you value family and free time, but work takes almost all your energy 
• you feel that you are expected to “set yourself or your values aside” for the sake of work

To recognise and avoid value conflicts, you first need to know what you yourself value.

How do values support wellbeing at work?

• When you work in an organisation or field that is in line with your values, you can be more fully yourself. This increases wellbeing at work and your commitment to your job. 
• When you know your own values and what is meaningful to you, you can also steer your career in a direction that reflects those values. 
• When your work and work environment match your values, your motivation and enthusiasm grow. You have more energy to develop your skills and reach your goals.

Values work like a compass in career decisions.
You can evaluate different options (jobs, roles, projects) by asking:

• Do these choices fit with my most important values? 
• Does this job or workplace support the kind of life I want to live?

This helps you avoid conflicting situations and makes decision-making easier.

Can you recognise situations at work, during placements or in your studies where you have experienced a value conflict?

• What do these situations tell you about your values? 
• How could you avoid or reduce value conflicts in the future (e.g. setting boundaries, choosing tasks, refining your career direction)?

Motivation is a central force in job searching and career planning. It:

• guides your choices (what you apply for, what you study, what you commit to) 
• helps you cope with difficult phases (e.g. rejected applications) 
• supports long-term development

Motivation does not, however, come by chance. In the background are your own values (what is important to you), goals (what you are aiming for), and your understanding of your own sources of motivation (what truly inspires you).

Self-Determination Theory: three basic psychological needs
Self-Determination Theory (Ryan & Deci) describes how lasting and genuine motivation arises when three basic needs are met:

1. autonomy 
2. competence 
3. relatedness

Autonomy means the experience that you can direct your own life and make your own choices. 

In job searching, autonomy shows up, for example, in that:

• you can decide what kinds of roles you aim for 
• you choose what kinds of organisations you want to work in 
• you actively plan your own career path

In today’s working life, career planning is largely a self-directed process.
When you feel that you can make decisions based on your own values and goals, and that you have influence over your situation, your commitment and wellbeing grow. It feels like you are at the helm of your own life and career.

Competence means the experience that you are capable and skilled, and that you can achieve results.

In job searching, competence shows up in, for example:

• confidence in your own abilities 
• courage to apply for roles that interest you 
• the ability to prepare for interviews and new tasks

You can strengthen your sense of competence by:

• recognising and articulating your own strengths 
• gaining experience (e.g. placements, projects, summer jobs) 
• studying and developing your skills

As your self-confidence grows, it becomes visible to others. Employers value applicants who trust their own skills and can express clearly what they know and what they want to learn. A strong sense of competence increases your ability to take action and lowers the threshold for seizing new opportunities and progressing in your career.

Relatedness means the experience that you are part of a group and that your contribution matters to others.

At work and in job searching, relatedness can mean that:

• you feel you would fit into the work community 
• you are included in the team and in interaction 
• you become part of a professional network

When you experience relatedness:

• your job search gains direction and purpose – you are not just looking for any job, but for a community that suits you 
• starting a new job feels safer and more meaningful 
• your motivation to stay and grow in the workplace is strengthened

You can use autonomy, competence and relatedness as tools in your own career planning. Pause to reflect on your needs:

• In what situations does work or studying feel truly like “you”? 
• When do you get to make your own decisions and use your creativity? 
• What strengths do you want to use and develop? 
• In what kinds of environments do you feel you belong? (e.g. small teams, international communities, calm workspaces)

When you think about job searching and career choices with these needs in mind, you actively look for:

• roles where you can influence your work (autonomy) 
• tasks where you can succeed and grow (competence) 
• communities where you feel you are part of the group (relatedness)

This way you build lasting motivation and are more likely to find work that supports both your wellbeing and your success.

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.

It is okay to feel! Job searching can involve uncertainty, anxiety, frustration or feelings of not being enough. It is important to notice these emotions and give yourself permission to feel them. 

In the Job Search and Emotions  section you can read more about how different emotions affect job search – and how you can cope with them.

You are not alone! When you are experiencing a lack of motivation, talking with friends, fellow students or family can ease the burden and open up new perspectives. 

Peer support often helps you notice that many others share similar feelings. Your situation is not an exception – others also doubt, get tired and feel stuck at times – and by talking, you can look for solutions together.

Support from a career coach! Metropolia’s career coaches offer encouraging and confidential discussions to support your situation. 

You do not need to have every step of your job search figured out to book a guidance session – on the contrary, you can book an appointment precisely when everything feels unclear. Together with a coach, you can structure your situation, bring out your motivation factors, and find concrete tools and new ways to approach job searching. 

 Book a career guidance appointment via Metropolia's Job Teaser platform.

Motivation comes and goes – the most important thing is that you do not stay alone with feelings of despair or inadequacy. Job searching is a process that does not have to be carried out perfectly; taking even the first small step is enough.

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?