HR Expert urges job seekers to choose careers that align with personal values
A Human Resource (HR) professional Joseph Asante has underscored the importance of aligning personal values with career choices, cautioning that failure to do so often leads to conflict and frustration in the workplace.
Speaking on Business Breakfast on Zed 101.9 FM, Mr Asante noted that many individuals overlook the role of values in shaping their career paths, focusing instead on immediate needs such as financial security.
“Whenever we conduct career development training sessions, one of the factors we emphasise is the need for individuals to be mindful of their values. If you are going into a particular career and that career does not align with your values, or worse, if you don’t even know what your values are, there will definitely be a struggle,” he said.
Mr Asante explained that clarity on personal values makes it easier to find synergy with organisational culture.
For instance, if family life is a personal priority, working in an organisation that promotes family-friendly policies creates harmony.
Conversely, when such alignment is absent, tension arises between career demands and personal priorities.
Mr Asante, however, acknowledged the realities that often compel people to accept jobs that conflict with their values.
“In our part of the world, hunger may be staring at you, family responsibilities may be pressing, and so people accept anything available. But in the long run, this lack of synergy leads to challenges because the individual struggles to reconcile their personal values with the organisation’s expectations,” he observed.
Mr Asante urged professionals and job seekers to clearly define their values as a guide for making career decisions, stressing that long-term satisfaction and productivity depend on this alignment.
