How to Find a Job That Aligns With Your Values: Expert Advice for Gen Z Job Seekers

In today’s competitive job market, young professionals often rush into applying for positions without taking time to reflect on what truly matters to them. According to Shashana, founder of Fairy Job Mother, this approach can lead to job dissatisfaction and early departures from roles that seemed promising on paper.

“Most young people don’t actually think about aligning their values with job opportunities,” Shashana explains. “They’re just thinking, ‘I need a job’ or following suggestions from parents without deeper reflection.”

Understanding Your Career Values Before Your Job Search

Before diving into job applications, Shashana recommends a strategic approach:

1. Identify your core interests and values
2. Determine what you want and don’t want in a workplace
3. Create non-negotiable criteria for your job search

This preparation helps you target opportunities that genuinely match your aspirations rather than applying indiscriminately to every opening.

Creating Your Non-Negotiable Job Criteria

When Shashana was searching for her first role, she established three non-negotiables:

1. Working specifically in technology marketing
2. Having travel opportunities within the role
3. Earning above a certain salary threshold based on previous industry experience

“These non-negotiables were actually really helpful because they determined which opportunities were worth investing my time in,” she shares. “It’s important to remember you’re interviewing companies as much as they’re interviewing you.”

By establishing clear criteria, you can:

• Focus your energy on truly suitable positions
• Ask more targeted questions during interviews
• Avoid wasting time on roles that won’t satisfy your needs
• Enter positions with greater confidence and clarity

Showcasing Your Potential Despite Limited Experience

A common concern among Gen Z job seekers is how to present themselves when they have limited work experience. Many feel overwhelmed by application processes that seem to demand years of expertise they haven’t had time to acquire.

Leveraging Transferable Skills

“A common theme I see in young people I work with is they’ll say ‘I’ve got no experience’ when they actually have loads of experience,” Shashana notes. “Just because it’s not directly related to that role, they think that experience doesn’t count—but that’s not the case.”

Every role you’ve held—whether in retail, hospitality, or volunteer work—has helped you develop transferable skills that employers value:

• Communication abilities
• Teamwork capabilities
• Problem-solving approaches
• Customer service orientation
• Time management skills

Beyond Traditional Work Experience

Don’t have formal work experience? Look to other areas of your life:

• Academic projects: Group assignments demonstrate collaboration and deadline management
• Sports participation: Team sports show commitment and cooperation
• Leadership roles: Being a prefect or club leader highlights responsibility
• Volunteer work: Community service demonstrates initiative and compassion

Results-Focused Presentation

Employers want to know how your skills deliver results. Rather than simply listing responsibilities, frame your experience in terms of outcomes:

❌ “I worked on the tills”
✅ “Communicated with 100+ customers daily, generating average sales of £1,000 while maintaining accuracy in transactions”

“Your CV is not a job posting—you don’t just list responsibilities,” Shashana advises. “Organizations are looking for people that can deliver results because they want to hire you to solve their problems.”

Navigating Workplace Culture as a New Employee

Securing your dream job is just the beginning. Many Gen Z professionals feel frustrated when their fresh ideas aren’t immediately embraced in new workplace environments.

Timing Your Input Strategically

“It’s all about knowing the right time and place to bring feedback and ideas up,” Shashana explains. “If you’re in your first week or month, that’s really learning time.”

Her recommendations for new employees:

• Document your ideas as they occur to you
• Learn the organization before suggesting major changes
• Understand the context behind existing processes
• Wait until you’ve gained credibility before proposing significant changes

Understanding Workplace Communication Channels

Many workplace frustrations stem from not understanding organizational communication norms:

• Direct messaging senior leaders without context
• Bypassing immediate managers to reach higher-level executives
• Raising concerns in inappropriate settings like large meetings

“There’s no malice behind it, but you need to understand that if you schedule a meeting with someone senior to your manager without involving them, that’s going to reflect poorly on your manager,” Shashana points out.

Instead:

• Use one-on-one meetings with your manager for suggestions
• Bring ideas to team meetings when appropriate
• Follow established communication protocols
• Ask mentors about the best channels for different types of feedback

Separating Reality from Social Media Illusions in Career Development

Social media can provide valuable career insights but also creates unrealistic expectations about job roles and progression timelines.

The Filtered View of Professional Life

“Take everything you see on social media with a pinch of salt,” Shashana advises. “We all know what you need to say to get views—you need to be controversial, make things look luxurious, or involve money.”

Career content creators often showcase:

• Glamorous office environments
• Impressive salary packages
• Exciting work perks and benefits
• Rapid career advancement

What they rarely show:

• Long hours and stress
• Study commitments alongside work
• Routine and sometimes tedious tasks
• Realistic promotion timelines

Connecting with Real Professionals

For a more accurate picture of any career path:

1. Connect with actual professionals in your target field through LinkedIn
2. Request informational interviews with people in roles you aspire to
3. Ask specific questions about daily realities, challenges, and work-life balance
4. Attend industry events to hear unfiltered perspectives

“Speak to real people if you can—real people that you can speak to either face to face or on a call,” recommends Shashana. “Most of the time, people are actually quite willing to help you.”

Evaluating Company Culture During the Interview Process

The interview process works both ways—it’s your opportunity to assess whether an organization truly aligns with your values.

Asking Revealing Questions

Shashana suggests using the “Do you have any questions?” portion of interviews strategically:

• “What’s your favorite part about working here?”
• “Which company value do you resonate with most?”
• “What are some challenging aspects of this role?”
• “How does the company support professional development?”
• “Can you describe the team dynamics I’d be working within?”

Trusting Your Instincts

“If something feels off—if you have a gut feeling—try and speak to some people, because usually if your gut’s telling you something is off, it is,” Shashana emphasizes.

Red flags to watch for:

• Vague answers about company culture
• Inability to articulate core values
• Hesitation when discussing work-life balance
• High turnover rates in the department
• Inconsistencies between different interviewers

FAQ: Finding Value-Aligned Jobs for Gen Z Professionals