Ethical Standards

For many years I've tried to live my life by a fairly simple rule, "be as honest as you can, especially with yourself". This seems to be a pretty solid value - Honesty, that is well recognized around the globe.

When I'm going into an organization an assessing their culture some of the first things that I look at formally include their mission and vision statements and their values. Honesty, may not be explicitly listed, but in my experience, the great companies all include it inherently. Some might include a value of Open Communications and you can take it to the bank that management intends this to include honest communication.

So in the theme of being true to oneself how are we relating a company's values to our own. I've often heard and given the 'follow your passion' speech. If you follow your passion and your passion really doesn't touch that particular organization are you being honest with yourself? I submit to you that you can in fact do better. But realize this, we do not have perfect markets. There are barriers to entry and exit in the workforce that may make being underemployed superior to being unemployed for an extended period of time. Nevertheless, even when unemployed are you actively working to improve your condition all the while realizing that the current situation is only temporary, that this too shall pass?

When you see that position, and accept it knowing that you'll likely have another position in a few weeks that better suits you? Eek, how terrible for the employer and you! You've now created a bubble in your resume, you've cost that employer extra expense in training, since you probably never hit their ROI for your recruiting, hiring and orientation expense.

The interview process is two way. Use it both ways, for the company to interview you and for you to interview the company. How good of a match are you to one another? Is this a win-win situation. If it isn't perfect, but you still see the advantage, do you feel that it would be to your mutual best interests to 'be as honest as you can' and share with your prospective employer the reality of the situation. Thank about it.