You’ve been working hard for years, and now, during your studies at university, you’re facing one of the biggest decisions of your life, choosing a career
Whether you’re looking for insight days, internships, placements, or a full-time role, the competition is fierce. When it feels like everyone is chasing the same opportunities, standing out comes down to your values.
Your principles and purpose can set you apart, even when many other candidates have similar qualifications.
What does ‘doing the right thing’ mean to you?
If you’re asking ‘which employer is right for me?’, you’re likely seeking a company that aligns with your values. In this competitive job market, many students want to work for companies that are ‘doing the right thing’ – not just financially, but socially and environmentally.
While salary is of course important, choosing an employer who aligns with your values should sit alongside or even above that when considering your future.
But what are your values? Here are some examples that might resonate with you:
- Work-life balance
- Career progression
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion such as women in leadership, LGBTQ+ visibility or accessibility for people with disabilities
- Environmental sustainability
- Transparency and trustworthiness
Your career journey may align with one or several of these values. It’s important to figure out which matters most to you.
Connecting values to career opportunities
For some students, values may be directly linked to the type of work a company does, think of NGOs fighting climate change or businesses focused on human rights. But for most, your role might be in a more traditional sector: finance, consulting, media, law, or tech. So, when looking at employers in these industries, ask yourself – What are they doing, outside of profit-making, to make the world a better place? This is where the hard work begins, and that’s where we at Windō come in. We’ve built tools to help you align your values with the right employers.
How to evaluate employers using your values
It’s true that many employers tell you what they think you want to hear, but you’re prepared to dig deeper. That’s why at Windō we are committed to providing you with resources that make it easier for you to uncover the truth and find companies that genuinely align with your values.
Did you know? Over 50% of Gen Z workers have resigned because their values didn’t align with their employer’s.
To avoid this mismatch, we offer you two powerful tools to evaluate potential employers:
- Employer Profiles: We’ve gathered data on over 600 of the largest graduate employers in the UK, USA, France, and Germany. These profiles include transparency on companies’ efforts in diversity, equity, inclusion, and sustainability.
- Early Career Opportunities Tracker: This tool features 1,200+ apprenticeships, internships, and full-time roles from 70 top employers across finance, tech, law, and consulting. Value filters and opportunity alerts mean you can find opportunities that align with what means the most to you and be emailed when roles become available.
Using Your Values to Stand Out
When it comes to applying for jobs, one thing that stands out is authenticity. Employers are looking for candidates who are true to themselves, and sharing your values can give you the edge.
In your applications and interviews, don’t just focus on skills, talk about why their company’s values matter to you.
Show them that you’ve done your homework, using data from Windō’s platform or other reliable sources to demonstrate your understanding.
Make the right career choice for you
At Windō, we’re on a mission to connect you with employers who are as committed to your values as they are to profit. The many tools we’ve developed help you find the right fit and stay ahead of the competition. Be sure to explore our Employer Profiles and Early Career Opportunities Tracker to start your journey towards a value-aligned career and if you want to be the first to hear about our game changing AI Career Advisor called Winnie, join our waitlist today.
Further advice from the Careers Service
Get more support on the Careers Service website.
If you have any careers related questions you can speak to us on live chat, or pop in to 5 Tyndall Avenue.