Integrity in Interviews
My first job out of college was in a tough work environment. After giving it about eight months, I had an interview for a new position elsewhere.
The interview was going great until their last question:
“How did you get time off from your current job to make it to this interview?”
It caught me totally off guard.
You see, I had called in sick in order to attend the interview. There weren’t many other options, so I told them that.
Their rejection call a few days later cited that answer as the reason.
Two lessons:
- Have integrity in all things, even in how you get out of work to find another job. It shines and pays dividends. I had a moment of lapse by calling in sick to do another job interview.
- Letting people know why you don’t select them for a job is a hard thing to do, but has so much value. Too many companies and businesses skip this step these days; even I skipped it in the early days.
In conclusion, this experience taught me the undeniable value of honesty and transparency in professional settings. While the temptation to take shortcuts can be strong, especially when seeking new opportunities, the long-term benefits of maintaining integrity cannot be overstated. Not only does it build trust with others, but it also fosters self-respect and authenticity in our career journeys.
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Do you have a different perspective? Let’s hear about it. Comment below or email peter@paddlenorth.com
-- Follow Pete on X at @peteyboardman
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