• Solutions
  • Products
  • Free Assessments
  • Pricing
  • For Individuals
O*Net Profiler

Work Values Matcher

Finding a job that resonates with your personal values can lead to greater fulfillment and productivity in your career. The Work Values Matcher helps you identify what truly matters to you in a work environment, guiding you toward roles that align with your goals and passions. By understanding your preferences, you can make more informed choices that lead to lasting satisfaction in your professional life.

Based on O*Net's WV

O*Net's Work Values (WV) framework, developed in collaboration with the Department of Labor, offers a structured approach to understanding what motivates and satisfies individuals in their careers. By analyzing various work values, such as achievement, independence, and recognition, individuals can pinpoint what truly resonates with them.

Benefits of this Work Values Inventory Test

The Work Values Inventory Test offers significant benefits by aligning personal aspirations with professional opportunities. By utilizing O*Net frameworks, individuals gain clarity on their core values, enabling them to navigate the job market more effectively. This test not only highlights essential work values but also fosters a deeper understanding of what contributes to job satisfaction and engagement. As a result, candidates can focus their search on roles that truly resonate with their motivations, paving the way for a more fulfilling and productive career path.

Work Values Inventory Test

The Work Values Inventory Test is a pivotal tool for anyone seeking to bridge the gap between personal values and career opportunities. By utilizing proven O*Net frameworks, this assessment provides individuals with a roadmap to clarify their essential work values, such as autonomy, teamwork, and work-life balance. Understanding these values is crucial, as they serve as a compass in the job search process, guiding candidates toward roles that not only align with their motivations but also foster a sense of belonging and purpose. By identifying what truly matters to you, this test empowers a more strategic approach to career decisions, ultimately leading to greater job satisfaction and engagement in your professional life.

Onet Work Values

Get Started

How you can use this test?

Ways you can use your online free work values assessment results:
Get a list of what motivates you in the workplace and instant feedback based on your answers
Become more aware of jobs that fit your personality and values
Share your work values quiz results with friends and see how you compare

How it works?

1
Take this assessment when
you’re at ease, undisturbed
and ready to focus.
2
Our instructions will guide
you through the process. It’s
easy - just go with your gut
feeling.
3
After completing the test,
you will receive your
feedback immediately
4
Share your results with
anyone, with just a click of a
button

What's Inside? Get immediate feedback by measuring these traits in you

Achievement
this trait refers to the desire for personal accomplishment and the drive to excel in one's work. Individuals with a high value for achievement often set challenging goals for themselves and are motivated by the sense of accomplishment that comes from meeting or exceeding those goals. They thrive in environments that provide opportunities for growth, advancement, and recognition based on their performance.
Independence
independence as a work value reflects the desire for autonomy and the ability to make decisions and take responsibility for one's work. Individuals who value independence prefer to work in environments that allow them to have control over their tasks and work schedule. They enjoy having the freedom to work on projects that align with their interests and strengths, and they are motivated by the ability to work independently and take ownership of their work.
Recognition
recognition as a work value refers to the importance placed on receiving acknowledgment and appreciation for one's contributions and achievements. Individuals who value recognition seek validation and praise for their efforts and thrive in environments that provide regular feedback and opportunities for recognition. They are motivated by being acknowledged for their hard work, and this recognition serves as a source of job satisfaction and motivation to continue performing at a high level.
Relationships
this trait reflects the importance placed on interpersonal connections and collaboration in the work environment. Individuals who value relationships enjoy working with others and prioritize building positive relationships with colleagues and clients. They thrive in team-oriented environments and are motivated by the opportunity to collaborate, support others, and contribute to a positive work culture. They find fulfillment in the social aspect of work and value the sense of belonging that comes from strong relationships.
Support
support as a work value refers to the desire for assistance, guidance, and resources to perform effectively in one's role. Individuals who value support appreciate having access to mentors, supervisors, or colleagues who can provide guidance and help them overcome challenges. They are motivated by knowing that they have a support system in place and feel empowered to seek help when needed. They thrive in environments that prioritize employee development and provide the necessary resources and support to succeed.
Working conditions
this trait reflects the importance placed on the physical and environmental aspects of the workplace. Individuals who value working conditions prioritize factors such as safety, comfort, and overall quality of the work environment. They are motivated by working in spaces that are well-maintained, organized, and conducive to productivity. They appreciate having access to necessary tools and resources and value employers who prioritize creating a positive and functional work environment.

Work Values Matcher

The Work Values Test, also referred to as job values assessment or professional values test, helps identify what you value in a work environment. Understanding your work values can guide your career choices and lead to greater job satisfaction.
This assessment is based on methodology from the Department of Labor's ONet database, which is based on various theories of work values and motivation, such as the aforementioned Rokeach's Value Survey and Herzberg's two-factor theory. This assessment is based on methodology from the Department of Labor's ONet database.

Assessment Insights

This Work Values test can facilitate personal growth by guiding individuals towards work that aligns with their core values, promoting job satisfaction and success. In interpersonal relationships, this understanding can foster respect for diverse work values.

For instance, a team member who values autonomy may prefer to work independently, while another who values collaboration may thrive in a group setting. By recognizing and respecting these differences, team members can work together more effectively and achieve better results. Additionally, employers can use the Work Values test to identify candidates who are a good fit for their company culture and values, leading to higher retention rates and a more cohesive team. This test can also be used in performance evaluations to help employees understand how their work aligns with their values and identify areas for growth and development. Overall, the Work Values test is a valuable tool for promoting personal and professional growth, fostering respect for diverse work values, and building strong, effective teams.

Scientific and Empirical Foundations

Origin of work values assessment: Rokeach, M. (1973). The nature of human values. New York: Free Press.

Methodology of work values assessment: Peterson, N. G., Mumford, M. D., Borman, W. C., Jeanneret, P. R., & Fleishman, E. A. (Eds.). (1999). An occupational information system for the 21st century: The development of O*NET. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Work values and career choices: Hansen, J. I., & Leuty, M. E. (2012). Work values across generations. Journal of Career Assessment, 20(1), 34-52.

Work values and job satisfaction: Judge, T. A., & Bretz, R. D. (1992). Effects of work values on job choice decisions. Journal of Applied Psychology, 77(3), 261-271.

Work values and team dynamics: Cable, D. M., & Judge, T. A. (1994). Pay preferences and job search decisions: A person-organization fit perspective. Personnel Psychology, 47(2), 317-348.

Work values and employee retention: Kristof, A. L. (1996). Person‐organization fit: An integrative review of its conceptualizations, measurement, and implications. Personnel Psychology, 49(1), 1-49.

Work Values Matcher

Get Started

Lead expert behind this test

Co-founder, Chief Product Officer

Social Cognition PhD, SWPS Social Psychology MSc, SWPS & LSE

Try out our other tests

You may like to explore other tools related to self-development, career, & job search.
8 min
Values assessment
What principles impact your behavior and guide your life choices? Discover your core values here.
blocked by:
    7 min
    Work Personality
    Discover the top traits that help you excel and determine your work fit.
    blocked by:
      4 min
      Emotional Intelligence
      Check your emotional management skills
      blocked by:

        Our assessments are designed by top scientists

        Our tools are developed by psychologists, psychometricians and cognitive scientists
        with research experience from institutions like these:

        Frequently asked questions

        What is the definition of work values?

        Work values can be defined as beliefs, principles or standards that matter most to someone regarding their career or place of work. Work values determine what drives and motivates a person at work and what type of career and organization is more suitable for a person. For example, for some people getting a sense of achievement at work and being recognized is more important than having good relationships with colleagues and space for creativity. For some, it is the other way round. The work values test used here is inspired by the U.S. Department of Labor’s O*Net work values inventory for assessing global aspects of work relevant to personal satisfaction, classified as Occupational Reinforcer Patterns (ORPs) that are based on the Theory of Work Adjustment (Dawis & Lofquist, 1984).

        What are examples of work values?

        Types of work values include:
        - Autonomy at work means having freedom and independence to work in a way that suits a person.
        - Working alone also means an independent pattern of work with minimal or no interactions with others.
        - Individual achievement – knowing and seeing own accomplishments in the workplace as well as having a feeling of success.
        - Recognition at work implies that one’s work and accomplishments are acknowledged within the organization.
        - Good working conditions – comfortable working areas and routine.
        - Follow rules – having set rules available to follow.
        - Creativity – having some space for creating and inventing things at work, introducing novel ideas.
        - Putting good relationships with other employees within the company and getting required support when needed.

        Why are work values important?

        Understanding personal values at the workplace is crucial for choosing jobs that fit the personality, and during interviews. Knowing what one’s work values are can help them plan a career, look for opportunities in their current work, or make a career change. Choosing the right career that fits one’s work values can increase happiness at work and even life satisfaction in the long run.

        How to determine your values at the workplace?

        One of the easy ways to understand what one’s values at the workplace are is to take a psychometric test. Such tests use psychometric tools for self-assessing work values. Personal values or motivators at work assessments are based on a series of questions that will point to their deepest values, beliefs, and motivating factors.

        What is the difference between work values and career motivators?

        Work values determine what drives, motivates, and brings a person happiness at work while fulfilling daily tasks. On the other hand, career motivators are what energize one when thinking about career goals. Career motivators are about activities a person would like to fulfill or skills that person would like to learn.

        What are work values?

        Work values are the guiding principles that dictate what we believe is important in our professional lives. They are the beliefs and attitudes that influence our behavior and decision-making when it comes to our careers. Understanding our work values can help us identify what motivates us, what we find meaningful in our work, and what we prioritize in our professional lives.
        For some people, work values may include things like achievement, recognition, and advancement. Others may prioritize work-life balance, flexibility, and autonomy. Still, others may value creativity, innovation, and the ability to make a difference in the world through their work.
        Work values vary from person to person and can change over time as we gain experience. Some people find that their work values are closely aligned with the values of their organization, while others may feel a disconnect between their personal values and the values of their workplace. Identifying and understanding our work values can be a helpful tool in making career decisions, setting professional goals, and finding fulfillment in our work. By aligning our work with our values, we can create a sense of purpose and meaning in our careers and achieve a greater sense of satisfaction and happiness. You’d rather be in an organization that is aligned with your values!