There are certain professional values which are universal and appropriate for all scenarios, whether it be at an interview, work experience or starting in a new role:
- Dress appropriately - if you are not sure of the dress code, ask!
- Punctuality - make sure you have planned your route and you are confident of turning up on time (every day!)
- Politeness and respect for others -creates good working relationships with colleagues and customers.
- Discretion and confidentiality- as well as being ethically right to protect sensitive information, the Data Protection Act makes it illegal to share data beyond its intended use.
- Honesty - you could damage your own or the organisation's reputation by lying or being dishonest.
- Personal responsibility – if you have a deadline to meet, or have made a commitment to do something then take responsibility for delivering on time. Don’t let people down, make excuses or blame others if you are unable to honour your commitments.
- Continuing professional development (CPD)– taking responsibility for your own learning, taking advantage of training available to you as well as seeking out opportunities to learn new skills and develop your knowledge.
As well as the above, each organisation is likely to have its own specific sets of values. You can learn some of the values expected of you in a role through researching the organisation- take a look at their 'About Us' or 'Why work for us?' pages, you are likely to find an indication of the company's ethos, branding or position in the marketplace.
For example, taken from a job description for a role here at The University of Bradford:
"It is the responsibility of every employee to uphold the University values of:
- encouraging participation and openness;
- encouraging creativity and innovation;
- supporting academic freedom and respecting the right to express diverse points of view;
- providing equal opportunities for all staff and students to achieve their full potential;
- applying the best ethical standards in everything we do"
AndCummins states that their 'mission' includes:
- "Motivating people to act like owners working together.
- Exceeding customer expectations by always being first to market with the best products.
- Partnering with our customers to make sure that they succeed.
- Demanding that everything we do leads to a cleaner, healthier, safer environment.
- Creating wealth for all stakeholders."
These wider values give an indication of what a organisation is like to work for, so you should be happy that a company's ethos fits with your own before applying for a job. Otherwise, you might find that a job is not the right fit for you once you have started in the role.
FAQs
Someone who displays professional values will: portray a professional image through reliability, consistency and honesty. dress and act appropriately. deliver work outcomes to agreed quality standards and timescales.
What are personal values and professional values? ›
Personal values are fundamental beliefs and principles that guide decision-making and behavior in one's personal life. Professional values are crucial to shaping workplace culture, influencing decision-making, and driving overall organizational success.
What are professional values and attitudes? ›
Updated August 29, 2022. Your professional values are the core values and ethics you adopt and demonstrate in the workplace. These traits include skills, behaviors and actions that many employers look for and desire in an employee.
Why are professional values important? ›
Professional values and ethics build confidence in the professions' trustworthiness by providing a common understanding of acceptable practice. They also provide greater transparency to clients and members of the society when the codes of conduct are disclosed publicly.
What are the 5 core values? ›
Five Core Values
- INTEGRITY. Know and do what is right. Learn more.
- RESPECT. Treating others the way you want to be treated. Learn more.
- RESPONSIBILITY. Embrace opportunities to contribute. Learn more.
- SPORTSMANSHIP. Bring your best to all competition. Learn more.
- SERVANT LEADERSHIP. Serve the common good. Learn more.
Here's one method you can use as a guide to identify your values in six steps:
- Reflect on your past career experiences. ...
- Analyze your experiences. ...
- Perform a self-assessment. ...
- Prioritize five to 10 values from your assessment. ...
- Define those values personally. ...
- Rank your values by importance.
What are the top 5 core personal values? There are a few common values that are prioritized by people across the globe. These include values such as kindness, honesty, loyalty, responsibility, and courage.
What are your top 3 personal values? ›
The top three values that many people worldwide share include family, honesty, and respect. Family is often cited as one of the most important values in life because it provides a sense of belonging and security. Having a loving family to turn to can help bring stability, joy, and comfort.
What are the professional values in the workplace? ›
These values might include respecting others, keeping promises, showing personal accountability, or providing excellent service. It's important to identify and understand the workplace values of successful team members, so that you can select new recruits who share these values or can add to them in some way.
What is a professional values statement? ›
A value statement is actionable. This means that it informs team members how to behave or where their focus should be. Consider a few actionable ways to demonstrate each of your top five values. Consider how you and your team members can apply the values in the workplace.
It is marked with values like accuracy, fairness, honesty, sincerity, justice, fearlessness, integrity, quest for knowledge, determination, etc. In professional life, the simplest manifestation of truth is in sincerity that can be seen in terms of commitment to work.
What is positive professional attitude? ›
In the workplace, someone with a positive working attitude will bring an optimistic, can-do approach to all of their tasks and responsibilities. They will motivate the people around them to do their best and help to move projects forwards when setbacks occur or challenges are faced.
What are the 9 professional ethics? ›
Typically these include honesty, trustworthiness, transparency, accountability, confidentiality, objectivity, respect, obedience to the law, and loyalty.
Why are values important to your professional growth? ›
They are the foundation of your identity and can have a significant impact on your personal and professional life. Identifying your personal values can help you better understand yourself, make informed decisions, and achieve your career goals.
What are the three importance of professionalism? ›
Dedication, integrity and responsibility are elements of professionalism that make a person successful in her field. By taking ownership of their roles and duties, professionals make names for themselves and usually find promotion, opportunities and repeat business come easily to them.
What is professional values in care? ›
They include altruism, autonomy, human dignity, integrity, and social justice.
How do you write a professional value statement? ›
Here are six tips for writing your personal value statement:
- Brainstorm your values and assets. Before you begin writing, take the time to contemplate your most in-demand skills, proudest accomplishments, and relevant work values. ...
- Be authentic. ...
- Stay present. ...
- Keep it concise. ...
- Tailor it to the position. ...
- Use action verbs.
Some professional organizations may define their ethical approach in terms of a number of discrete components. Typically these include honesty, trustworthiness, transparency, accountability, confidentiality, objectivity, respect, obedience to the law, and loyalty.
