Know Thyself In Your Job Search, with Dr. Lucas Moe
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Knowing your values is one of the most important steps you can take in your job search. According to Find Your Dream Job guest Dr. Lucas Moe, your values shape not only the kind of work you’ll enjoy but also the environments where you can do your best work. When you’re clear about what matters most, it’s easier to spot opportunities that fit — and just as importantly, to walk away from roles that don’t.
In this episode, Dr. Moe explains how to use the Schwartz Human Value Survey to uncover your top values, why focusing on your top three helps define your non-negotiables, and how self-knowledge can guide better career decisions. He also shares how knowing yourself helps you ask better questions in interviews, make more informed career decisions, and ultimately build a career that feels both meaningful and sustainable.
About Our Guest:
- Dr. Lucas Moe is the associate director for career services at the University of Washington’s Information School.
Resources in This Episode:
- Connect with Dr. Moe on LinkedIn
Transcript
Find Your Dream Job, Episode 523:
Know Thyself In Your Job Search, with Dr. Lucas Moe
Airdate: October 15, 2025
Mac Prichard:
This is Find Your Dream Job, the podcast that helps you get hired, have the career you want, and make a difference in life.
I’m your host, Mac Prichard. I’m also the founder of Mac’s List. It’s a job board in the Pacific Northwest that helps you find a fulfilling career.
Every Wednesday, I talk to a different expert about the tools you need to get the work you want.
Your values make a huge difference when you look for a job.
When you understand what matters to you most your work becomes more rewarding.
It also becomes easier to find employers who offer what you want.
Dr. Lucas Moe is here to talk about why you need to know thyself in your job search.
He’s the associate director for career services at the University of Washington’s Information School.
Dr. Moe joins us from Seattle, Washington.
Well, let’s jump right into it, Dr. Moe.
Why is it important to know thyself when you’re doing a job search? What do you have in mind here?
Dr. Lucas Moe:
I think values play a huge role in the types of jobs you go for, the ones you look for. There are a lot of practices out there about being intentional with your searches and aligning your skills with the types of roles.
And a lot of this goes more to like career satisfaction, career motivations. So I think understanding your values plays a pivotal role in clarifying your career motivations and identifying the ideal work environments for you. It can be helpful in career decision-making, even in developing a career plan.
I also like to use it to help build self-awareness. And like, these are the things I’m looking for in developing those pros and cons lists about what is the next opportunity that I’m wanting to consider that aligns with what I’m wanting to do.
Mac Prichard:
And to clarify, when we’re talking about knowing thyself, we’re talking about the values that matter most to you as an individual. Am I hearing that right?
Dr. Lucas Moe:
Yeah, so what I typically like to use when I work with students and clients is known as the Schwartz Human Value Survey. So Schwartz is this cultural psychologist. He did this study of thousands and thousands of cultures around the world.
And what he found out is that, regardless of how people identified what they valued, it fell into one of 10 categories. And so he has these overarching identifiers of what these values are and how they interact with us in pretty much every decision that we make throughout our lives.
Mac Prichard:
Okay, so a list of 10 values, and I know we’re going to walk through those in a moment. What happens, Dr. Moe, if you start a job search and you don’t know the values that matter most to you, if you don’t know thyself?
Dr. Lucas Moe:
I think several things can happen. I think one, you could ultimately put yourself in the wrong space where the opportunity may seem great, but the environment doesn’t match.
And so what I like to teach about is when we’re talking about career satisfaction or job satisfaction, it’s not just the type of work that we’re doing, it’s also the environment that we’re going to be in, the culture we want to be in, and whether those align with what it is that we’re looking for.
And if you don’t really investigate and understand what your values are, you could ultimately end up taking a longer road than necessary to find out what makes you happy in the type of work that you enjoy doing.
Mac Prichard:
Do you see people who don’t invest in understanding the values that matter to them take wrong turns or even find themselves on a road that ultimately leaves them unhappy in their career?
Dr. Lucas Moe:
I’ve seen a lot more of the latter. I’ve seen, like, this is where a lot of career shifts come in, or just career pivots come in, where like, I’m not happy with what I’m doing. And that tends to be the number one comment that I get when people are looking for that change in their careers.
Like, I’m no longer happy with what I’m doing. Like, I’m miserable in this role. Like, what do I do? But I don’t know what I want to do next. And so I kind of have them take this value survey to kind of help identify, hey, these are the values that you have.
What are your top three? And then, you know, there’s another interest profile that I have them do is like, which one do you see yourself in where like your values are more applicable to what you’re wanting to do? And how do your values align with the type of work that you want to do?
What do you want, like what you want to accomplish next?
Like, there’s a lot of introspection that needs to happen that I don’t think a lot of people take time for to really consider. There’s a lot of like, this is what I’m looking for from another job, but none of them are about the intrinsic values that they have that really drive their motivating factors.
Mac Prichard:
I want to unpack that in a moment, Dr. Moe. Before we get there, what about the employers? I’m hearing you loud and clear. It’s important for you in managing your own career and your job search to know what matters to you.
Do employers care whether or not candidates understand the values that matter to them?
Dr. Lucas Moe:
I’m not sure I would go as far as saying employers care if they understand the values, at least overtly. But I do think there is a dynamic that understanding values plays in team dynamics and team composition.
When you’re hiring someone, you have to know what it is that you’re looking for from the other person in the role that they’re trying to fill. But at the same time, people are also looking for what’s cultural fit or cultural add.
And it’s like, what is it that they value that could potentially bring a greater influence, effectiveness, and efficiency to the work that we’re doing? Also, when you’re looking at team dynamics, one of the things that I teach about is that a conflict is ultimately two opposing values.
And which do you value more? Because neither is inherently wrong. It’s just more, this is what we value here, and this is how it shows up, versus this is what the employee values and how it shows up in the workspace.
So I think it’s helpful to make informed, have this knowledge to make informed decisions because then they can balance out like, okay, these are the areas where I can identify and expect to see a little bit of conflict coming into play versus this is where I see us excelling and where we can definitely benefit off of each other and just grow and learn from each other.
Mac Prichard:
Okay, so knowing your values can help you in the workplace. How does it help you as a candidate when you’re doing a job search?
Does it give you an advantage over your competitors when you’re clear about the values that matter to you most and you know thyself?
Dr. Lucas Moe:
Yeah, I think clarity is a confidence booster. It’s definitely one of those tools under your belt. The way that I see it influence a lot of the job search is when it comes time to one, it’s intentional searching, right?
Like I’m looking for roles that align with the values that I have. Like this is what’s going to make me happy. Two, when it gets to the interviews, it is very much about, “Do you have any questions for us?:
And what I tell people all the time is like, if you have a value-based question, if there’s something that you absolutely need to know, you should have a question around that value to ensure that this is the good space, the right space for you to be in.
And what I tend to tell my students and clients is that the way I want you to approach the job search is that you’re a product and you’re marketing yourself.
And what you’re trying to do is identify is this a partnership that you want to be in? It’s not really an employer-employee. It is a business contract. It is a business partnership. Is this an organization that you want to be in partnership with?
Is this an organization that aligns with the values that you have, at least your top values? And is it shown in a way that matters most to you? Because if not, you’ll probably be miserable in the work that you do, or have to make some compromises.
Mac Prichard:
Well, let’s talk about those values and what’s the first step, Dr. Moe, to getting clear about the values that matter to you most?
Dr. Lucas Moe:
Yeah, so it’s relatively easy. Just Google ‘Schwartz Human Value Survey,’ and I have my students take it. It’s like a 40-question questionnaire and it’s more of like which one do you prefer? And it’s it’s essentially a Likert scaling kind of just drag and drop like where you want to follow or where you fall.
And at the end of this survey, it gives you a circular, essentially a pie chart, as to which of the 10 values are your highest and lowest, because what it identifies is that we all value these 10 values. We just don’t necessarily value them to the same degree.
And so those 10 values are self-direction, stimulation, hedonism, achievement, power, security, conformity, tradition, benevolence, and universalism. However, there are some values that are like directly in opposition of each other. And then there are values that complement each other.
And it’s there I have seen where, one value is significantly higher and then the directly opposing one is significantly low. For me, tradition is very low for me and tradition typically shows up in the workspace because we’ve always done this, which makes sense because I also appreciate creativity and innovation.
And so for me, I wouldn’t want to be in a space that, well, we’ve always done it this way. I’m like, okay, cool. How can we get better?
Mac Prichard:
All right. Well, let’s pause there because I want to take a break. And when we come back, I want to talk about once you take that first step and figure out the values that are most important to you, what you do next.
So stay with us. When we return, Dr. Lucas Moe will continue to share his advice on why you need to know thyself in your job search.
We’re back at the Mac’s List Studio. I’m talking with Dr. Lucas Moe.
He’s the associate director for career services at the University of Washington’s Information School.
Dr. Moe joins us from Seattle, Washington.
Now, Dr. Moe, before the break, we were talking about why you need to know thyself in your job search. And you shared with us a tool that’s available online that you can use to figure out which of 10 universal values matter most to you.
When you have that information, I know you recommend that people look at the top three values that you rank for.
Why the top three, Dr. Moe? And once you know that list, what do you do with it?
Dr. Lucas Moe:
I like to do the top three because those are the ones that matter most to us, and it’s a way to highlight what we do want and what we’re looking for. Like, I do think knowing the bottom three is helpful because it’s a highlight of like what we don’t want in a space, but ultimately that needs to lead to what we do want.
What I have people do afterwards is a lot more self-reflection and just consideration of like how have these values shown up in your past experiences, because they have, we just haven’t really taken the time to really sit down and think it through, like, this is how benevolence has shown up for me throughout my life.
This is how conformity has shown up for me throughout my life. And the experiences that really solidified why these matter most. So I like to have them kind of do a little bit more introspection. Then the other thing that I like to have them do is, I like to ask the question, “How do you want your values to show up in the workspace?”
Like what type of work are you wanting to do that you would find fulfilling that aligns with these values? And then more importantly, with the workspaces that you’re in, what is the type of work, the type of environment that you want these to show up in, and how do you want it to show up in?
It’s because the how part can look very different from person to person who values the same thing. And so I think knowing how they want it to show up is very insightful in helping them align with these are the types of roles I want to go for, these are the types of organizations I want to go for.
Because, you know, for example, if someone really values achievement or conformity, then being in a nonprofit space may not be the space for them to be in, right? Where there isn’t a lot of, well, this is how we’ve always done it, like there’s constant innovation that needs to happen.
Like everyone wears multiple hats, that probably wouldn’t be the space for them. So knowing what the top three are can help weed out everything that isn’t a good fit for them.
Mac Prichard:
Is this work you can do on your own, or do you have to do it with a coach? What’s been your experience?
Dr. Lucas Moe:
I think it is work that you can do on your own, but it is helpful to have a coach guide you in that process and really be able to help ask those questions that you may sometimes overlook or not even consider.
Because ultimately it comes back to, we don’t know what we don’t know. And most of the individuals that I’ve worked with when it comes to these values, like I’ve never even known that these existed. And then they’ve never really taken time to reflect and really see how these values have shown up throughout their life.
And this is something that I do with the class that I teach. And it’s about professionalism in this industry, where I have my students really take some time to think about the values that they have, how it shows up, how they want it to show up.
I’ve had students who’ve integrated it into their midterm and their final, which is a business case presentation and a project proposal that they have to do. And a lot of them, like, I really want to have this be a values base, like I find this type of work fulfilling.
And it’s really been an eye-opener for a number of my students to where they now better understand themselves and the type of work that they want to look for to really feel fulfilled.
Mac Prichard:
So there’s a list of 10 values. You’ve identified which three matter most to you. How do you determine what’s non-negotiable?
Is it your top three values? And once you identify something as non-negotiable, how do you apply that to your job search, Dr. Moe?
Dr. Lucas Moe:
Ooh, that’s a really great question. I always have my students and clients when they identify their values and what they’re looking for. So this goes back to the how things show up in the workspace.
And so I’ve worked with some students where they have said that, “Remote work is a non-negotiable for me. Like I have to be in office. Like I need to be in person. That’s where I learn best.”
But then they kept continuing in our conversation and said like, well, actually, I could be okay with remote work if this happens. I’m like, okay, so is it a non-negotiable or is it not? Because non-negotiable means like, it absolutely needs to be this way for you.
And I think when you have a better understanding of what your situation is and what you value and how you want them to show up, those become imperative and pivotal in the decision-making that you get to do because it’s informed decisions.
And it’s like, if it’s okay, if it shows up this way, then cool, I can take it. But if not, then I need it to be like this. And this goes back to what I mentioned earlier about this helps with answering, asking the right questions that you need to know to ensure that this is a good partnership for you.
And so, whether you consider it non-negotiable, I think that’s more of the context, but I do think understanding your values and what it is that you’re looking for can help you determine what becomes the non-negotiable and what is something that you are willing to negotiate on.
Mac Prichard:
Sometimes, candidates are reluctant to close the door on opportunities. They think, well, for many reasons, “I could do that job.” How does knowing your values help you focus your job search as you move forward?
Dr. Lucas Moe:
For me, it comes back to career satisfaction. My ex-husband, there were times when he would always send me these job announcements, and he’s like, I think you’d be good at this. And I would read the job announcement. I could definitely do that. But the type of work that was being listed out there, I’m like, I would not enjoy this.
Don’t get me wrong, I know there are foot-in-the-door types of jobs, and there are placeholder roles. If you need income, your situation may dictate what types of roles you’re looking for. And I’ve been in those positions myself.
But at the same time, we’re talking about career satisfaction. And there’s a very big difference between waking up and being like, “I got to go to work,” and being like, “Oh my god, I got to go to work.” We want to find some sort of satisfaction.
If you’re there 40 hours a week, these are people you’re going to be engaging with, I personally want to make sure that this is a space that I want to regularly be in, where I can be my authentic self and show up authentically and just bring my whole self to the space and really be able to positively contribute.
For me, it also really weeds out the types of roles that I’m not interested in even pursuing. And then from there, when I’ve identified, well, these are the roles I think I’d be really great at and enjoy doing, going from there to really find out which one is the better fit for me.
Which is that best fit that I know I’d enjoy doing? This team sounds really great? Or it’s like, oh, this doesn’t really sound like something I’d enjoy doing based on the questions that I’ve asked and how they’ve answered, so maybe this isn’t the right role for me.
Mac Prichard:
Sometimes, in addition to people who send us job announcements saying, “This might interest you,” we have friends or family or colleagues who say, “You should do this kind of work. You should pursue this kind of profession.”
And it might not be anything that we’re interested in at all. How does knowing your values help you navigate those choices?
Dr. Lucas Moe:
So one of the things I have quoted saying to my students and even my family is the easiest decision to make is one you’ve already made. And so when someone, and the example I typically use, if you’re going out to a party and someone offers you a drink but you’ve already decided not to drink, the answer is easy to make. “No, I’m good, thank you.”
Same thing with the values and the jobs that you’re looking for. The question of have you considered this type of work is like, “No, I’m not really interested in that type of work. I’m looking for something that would help me do A, B, C.”
So it helps to have more of those intentional conversations, even in the networking space. Because if someone brings me that opportunity, I take it in good faith. I’m like, “Hey, thank you for thinking of me. What about me says I would be good in this role? What characteristics do I have?”
So I can better understand where they’re coming from, but then also inform them, these are the spaces of opportunities that I’m really looking for. If you have any opportunities that align with that, that you think I would be able to do this type of work or apply these values. I’m open to hearing those types of opportunities.
And so it really helps to optimize their network even more to really zero in on the intentionality of that job search.
Mac Prichard:
In your experience, you’re in charge of career services. Can someone have both job satisfaction and a satisfying career if they’re not clear about their most important values?
Dr. Lucas Moe:
I think it’s possible, I think it becomes trickier to find or longer to find. Me personally, I fell into higher education before I even knew my values. I was recruited by, she was the then vice chancellor for student affairs of where I did my undergrad, and I ran into her at a conference during my first year of grad school, and she was like, “Keep in touch because I always thought you would be great in student services and student affairs.”
I had never considered higher ed as a viable career path, and here I am years later, enjoying and very satisfied with my career, and I always find myself coming back to higher ed, regardless of the spaces that I’m in. And I’ve recently found, recently like seven years ago, found career consulting as another passion of mine.
And so now I’m intentional about finding spaces and roles where I can do career services and higher education. So I think it is possible to fall into it, but it is one of those; it’s definitely a journey if you don’t have someone there to help navigate and mentor you along that way.
Mac Prichard:
Well, it’s been a terrific conversation, Dr. Moe. Now tell us what’s next for you.
Dr. Lucas Moe:
I strongly believe in empowering students to take ownership of their career journey, like even the clients that I work with. Basically what I like to say is like, I’m here to work myself out of a job. And so I’m wanting to help as many people find satisfaction in their careers.
Mac Prichard:
Well, I know that listeners and viewers can learn more about you by connecting with you on LinkedIn. When you do reach out to Dr. Moe, please mention you heard and saw him on Find Your Dream Job.
Now, Dr. Moe, given all the great advice you’ve shared today, what’s the one thing you want our audience to remember about why you need to know thyself in your job search?
Dr. Lucas Moe:
I think I’ve said it a couple of times, for me, it comes back to career satisfaction. You find what makes you happy, find what aligns with your values, and the satisfaction naturally flows.
Mac Prichard:
Next week, our guest will be Nikki Schutte.
She’s the executive director of the Portland Human Resources Management Association.
Her organization serves human resources professionals at all levels and functions.
Hiring managers care about connections.
A referral won’t get you a job, but it can get a recruiter to pull your application from a tall stack of resumes and even a first interview.
Join us next Wednesday when Nikki Schutte and I talk about why you will find your next job through your network.
Until next time, thanks for letting us help you find your dream job.
This show is produced by Mac’s List.
Susan Thornton-Hough schedules our guests and writes our newsletter. Lisa Kislingbury Anderson manages our social media and creates our transcripts.
Our sound engineer and editor is Matt Fiorillo. And our music is by Freddy Trujillo.
This is Mac Prichard. See you next week.
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