Special Issue: Workplace Values

Knowing a company’s values and the culture of their work environment is crucial. This is an important step in trying to figure out whether you would be a good fit. It might take some digging to find the answers you’re looking for, but a good place to start is with the company itself. Use Handshake to research the companies that are recruiting UM students, and message directly with the recruiters or with students with work experience at the company. Another great resource is Glassdoor. This platform offers updated job listings and a growing database of employer reviews, CEO approval ratings, interview reviews, office photos, and more.

Throughout this special issue of the Toppel Insider newsletter, we will help you identify and understand some key workplace values and how they might impact you in your future job. You may not be able to directly control the culture of your work environment – but you can use these resources to make an informed decision about where you work.

Your Values

Before you can begin to understand the values and functionality of an organization/workplace, it’s important to identify your personal values and skills. If you aren’t sure what those are, here is some advice that can help you figure it out. At Toppel, we have a variety of assessments that can also be a great place to start thinking about your values. You can view a complete list of career assessments on our website.

DEIB Initiatives

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) initiatives have been at the core of many companies across all industries, but how can you ensure that the organization(s) you want to work for are meeting their commitment? It starts by understanding the concept, as this article by Built In explains:

Diversity is the presence of differences within a given setting
Equity is the process of ensuring that processes and programs are impartial, fair and provide equal possible outcomes for every individual
Inclusion is the practice of ensuring that people feel a sense of belonging in the workplace
Belonging centers around the employee experience of feeling accepted in the workplace and it implies a sense of value - that an employee is needed and wanted

The Toppel Career Center team is dedicated to educating students, employers, and each other about diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in our society, and specifically, in the workplace. We are also committed to providing students opportunities at organizations that value DEIB. You can read a complete list of our expectations for recruiters here.

Toppel Values Wall

At Toppel, we have values too! Visit us in-person to check out our Values Wall and learn more about the principles that shape our work:

Passionate, Always Learning, Quirky, Imaginative, Play/Work, Energetic, Collaboration, Fearless, High-Achieving, Focus, Hustle, Risk-Taking, Adaptable, Pursuit of Excellence, Creativity, Embrace Chaos, Engaging, Motivated, Bold Moves, and Toppel Hearts.

Which of these values would you love to have in a work environment? Follow us on Instagram @HireACane and let us know your thoughts!

Sustainability	Creativity	Work Life Balance	Flexibility
A sustainable workplace establishes the goal of balancing the planet, people, and profit to ensure long-term success. This could mean small-scale efforts like recycling or using renewable energy sources, or broader initiatives. Here are six real-world examples of sustainability in the workplace.	Creativity in the workplace isn’t just for designers or other traditionally creative roles. In any role or company, creativity looks like welcoming new ideas, considering a variety of perspectives, and embracing mistakes. When a workplace values creativity, it can inspire innovation and collaboration. In the post-COVID workplace, companies are valuing creativity more than ever – as this article explains.	You might believe that working long hours is the key to success, but it’s important to challenge this assumption. Research shows that long hours can actually be harmful. It can be hard to address overworking though, especially as students. You have classes, extracurriculars, work and fun pulling you in so many directions. We often add to our plates without taking anything way – thinking that if we just work harder, we can get it all done. This is how burnout (both mental and physical) becomes a constant reality and derails productivity as well as our potential. It’s important to keep in mind that work-life balance isn’t something that can be achieved. Rather, it is a continuous cycle with ebbs and flows. Here are six tips that can help you navigate this cycle with greater ease, allowing more room in your life for the stuff that brings you joy. There are also things employers can do to encourage and support their employees’ work-life balance. These include building a culture of care, flexibility, and trust. Here’s an article that can help you identify these on the job hunt.	Now that we’re half-way through the spring semester, you may be thinking about finding a part-time, full-time, or summer internship opportunity. In today’s workplace, you have more options available to you about your work setting and if it will be remote, in-person, or hybrid. Trying to figure out which setting might work best for you? Check out this article for some advice.