At work, that happiness often translates into commitment. It keeps people engaged and it keeps them from quitting. Many people have only a dim awareness of their own deeply embedded life interests. Or they may simply have been unaware of many career choices at critical points in their lives. Most college seniors and new MBAs set sail on their careers knowing very little about all the possible islands in the sea.
Ability can make an employee feel competent.
That's important, but people who are good at their jobs aren't necessarily engaged by them. In the context of career satisfaction, values refer to the rewards people seek. Some people value money, others want intellectual challenge, and still others desire prestige or a comfortable lifestyle. People with the same abilities and life interests may pursue different careers based on their values. People can be drawn into going down career paths because they have the ability and like the rewards - even though they're not interested in the work.