4 Tips for finding values alignment at work

Research shows that “trust and commitment are essential for high individual and corporate performance,” and “employees want to feel invested in their organization's purpose, including the ways in which it interacts with the larger world.” At Chime, we’re firm believers in our core company values — they inform how we work together to deliver on our goals and, ultimately, achieve our organization’s mission.

We sat down with two Chimers to learn about why aligning personal and company values is important, how they do that in their work at Chime, and their tips for finding a company that fits with your values. Here’s what they had to say.

Why values alignment matters

It makes you feel connected to your team and company

“When I was looking for my next career opportunity, I worked with a career coach to dig into what really mattered to me,” says Terence Mascarenhas (he/him/his), Chime’s Director of Design Program Management. He loved what he did and who he worked with in his previous role, but he wanted to find a deeper connection to his work. “With my coach, I did a lot of work around my own personal values, which was really helpful in my search,” he says. “While interviewing with Chime, I realized how aligned Chime’s values were to mine: specifically, those of ‘Chime In’ and ‘Be Human.’ My deep values around curiosity and human connection would feel so at home here — and that’s why I decided to join the company.”

Finding alignment with Chime’s values

Maciej and Terence both believe in the value of aligning their personal values with those of the company where they work — and they’ve put their beliefs into practice at Chime. Here are the particular values they feel most aligned with:

Maciej

“For me, it’s about Teaming Up and Being Human: I spent the better part of my life playing basketball, so I’m constantly thinking about what makes a good, diverse team even better. And especially in the past couple of years, it’s been critical to treat each other as humans, remember that ‘it’s a marathon, not a sprint’, and to support each other through it all.”

Terence

“I love how member-obsessed we are. I learned early in my career how important it was to put myself in my customers’ shoes, and I was drawn to how authentically Chime does this. I don’t think I could have ever understood how deep Chime’s member obsession really runs until I joined the team. Being on a design team at a company so committed to its members means my talents are truly put to good use solving real problems, and that brings me fulfillment on several levels.”

Tips for finding a company you’re values-aligned with

1 — Know your own personal values

Finding alignment with your own values involves establishing them and thinking honestly about them in the first place. Think about the things that make you feel fulfilled and engaged at work and consider whether a company’s values will contribute to a positive working environment for you. There’s no right or wrong answer and everyone is motivated by different factors — knowing your values is a great first step towards finding a company that can help you live them at work.

2 — Read up on the company’s values

Though Maciej’s German adage is true — you can write anything down on paper — that tends to be a good place to start when you’re first understanding a company’s values. Look at their about or careers page to learn about their mission and values. See if their blog has any posts to give you a peek at their culture and how their values show up in the day-to-day.

3 — Notice how values are lived

Whether or not you look at a list of values when applying for a role, you’ll hopefully be able to get a sense of them through the interview process. While you won’t be expected to name every value a company holds during an interview, you’ll be able to tell whether the team cares for each other, their customers, and their values. So pay attention in your interviews to how values come off of paper — and into real life.

4 — Ask about them

Another great way to learn about a company’s values is to simply ask about them. Talk to your recruiter or interviewers about how employees put the company’s values into practice and why they matter to the business.