What do you do if your personal values don't align with potential employers?

The key word here is "potential". As this decision will be made before starting to work with a company, one should have done a level of due diligence on the organizational culture. I have had times, however, where this 'culture clash' becomes apparent during the interview. When that happened, I stopped the discussion and mentioned that I didn't feel we'd be a good mutual fit. A couple of reasons were listed, and I said we probably shouldn't take any more time as there is probably a better fit than me for this opportunity. ALL, yes ALL of the people in the discussion were respectful and thankful for my honesty.

In my personal experience, understanding your core values is essential before engaging with potential employers. This clarity acts as your compass, guiding you towards companies that share similar principles and cultures. Start by listing out what values are non-negotiable for you and consider how these align with your career aspirations.

Once you establish your moral character and who you are, you also know the type of person you want to be and the type of company you hope to work for. Keep that in mind as you look for open positions. Research the companies you are applying too and do they align with your moral compass? Never comprise so much your moral compass stops pointing true north, if you do you may not find you way back. There are lots of corporate and small business owners that fell into that trap, don’t be one of them that regrets your decisions.

Past experience has taught me, if there is a high turn over, there may be reason for that. Reach out to current or former employee's and ask how they feel about the organization. Read company reviews as well. Try to gather information from several sources before determining whether you want to apply to the company or not. The more you know the better decision you can make. And the less you will be shocked by the reality once you are hired on, whether good or bad.

From my experience, thorough research is your best tool to uncover a company’s true colors. Investigate their social media, employee reviews on platforms like Glassdoor, and news articles. This comprehensive approach helps you gather insights on their corporate culture, ethics, and social responsibility.

When working with clients, I emphasize the importance of self-assessment in relation to potential employers. Reflect on your findings from the research phase and critically evaluate how well your personal values mesh with the company's demonstrated values and practices.

During the interview process if you feel the company values don't align with your own, feel free to ask questions to ensure there was no miscommunication. This will also show, how those you will be working will respond to such queries. If there is a policy or procedure you don't understand or take issue with, will they be willing to work with you on it, or will it be a deal breaker. Is it something that you and the interviewer can come together and compromise on or make better? This could be a moment that changes the course of the interview as well as the outcome when its time to discuss an offer.

It's crucial to express any concerns about value misalignment during the interview process. This conversation can be a pivotal moment to gauge how the company handles dissent or differing opinions, which is itself a reflection of their values.

In our projects, seeking alignment is about finding common ground. If an employer’s values don’t perfectly align but show areas of potential synergy, consider if these are sufficient for you to thrive and stay true to your own values.

Finally, making a decision might be tough, but previous experiences taught me that compromising your core values often leads to dissatisfaction. Trust your instincts—if the fit isn't right, it might be best to continue your search rather than settle.

RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN...joke. If the company values don't align with yours despite many positives, it's essential to weigh the pros and cons carefully. Consider how important alignment is to your long-term career satisfaction and growth. Evaluate whether the positives: opportunities for skill development or networking, outweigh the differences in values. If you can still contribute meaningfully while maintaining your integrity, it may be worth accepting the offer and seeking ways to influence positive change at the company. If it is too much of a mismatch and compromises your values, it might be best to explore other opportunities. Trust your instincts.

Keep in mind that finding the perfect match can be rare, and sometimes it’s about finding the closest fit while remaining open to influencing change within the organization. Balancing idealism with practicality is key to a fulfilling career.