Articles - Career / Personal Development

Nice guys do not always finish last. Your integrity influences hiring decisions. The Corporate Executive Board in Arlington, Virginia recently surveyed 500,000 employees in over 85 countries. The study found that companies identified as having high-integrity cultures are 67 percent less likely to observe significant instances of misconduct, such as accounting irregularities and insider trading, than companies with low-integrity cultures. What does this mean to the job seeker?

Workplace Integrity: Companies want it!

New York Times columnist Adam Bryant interviewed more than 70 CEOs and other leaders in his book, The Corner Office: Indispensable and Unexpected Lessons from CEOs on How to Lead and Succeed. Bryant wanted to find what he calls five essentials for success; qualities that most leaders share and look for in people they hire. Legendary investor and philanthropist Warren Buffet’s top priority in hiring was “people with integrity”. It ranked high with others as well.

There was a time when a job candidate’s integrity was taken at face value without confirmation. Times have changed. Employers are asking retained search firms to be more careful and more thorough in conducting reference checks and background investigations. Consequently, Cornerstone International Group, a global consortium of more than 100 boutique executive search firms, added an entire division devoted to background checks, including a full-service “Private Eye” company. Many companies use pre-employment assessments to gauge a candidate’s trustworthiness and integrity.

Workplace Integrity: It’s a day-to-day thing

As defined, integrity is a concept of consistency of actions, values, methods, measures, principles, expectations and outcomes. In ethics, it is regarded as the honesty and truthfulness of one’s actions—the opposite of hypocrisy. Who you are deep inside is evidenced by what you do on a daily basis. It’s about following through on your word, being above reproach and honorable with your actions. This creates trust, respect and professionalism. It does not matter whether you are the night custodian or the CEO; living with workplace integrity impacts not only your long-term professional development; it also enhances the overall company culture—it’s a domino effect!

Integrity: How to show you’re a candidate who has it

Throughout your job search, how do you convey the integrity that you and employers value—and people in general admire?

• Resumes and career traditional and online communications. Don’t embellish your skill sets, experience or credentials. This will come back to bite you if hired. And even before that, you might regret it. Today’s background checks are thorough; false or inconsistent information will remove you from the pool of candidates. Do emphasize any background that highlights your integrity.

• Weave integrity into your networking. Keep your word. If you say you will follow up, do it. Be accountable for everything you say. Don’t take advantage of networking relationships. Pull your weight. Give back to those who try and help you—every chance you get. Show appreciation and thank people.

• Tell it in your stories. Showcase integrity in your interviews. Be prepared for behavioral questions designed to reveal your character. Have success stories ready to show how you solved problems and met challenges with high integrity.

• Show it holistically. Be up front with recruiters on what you want in salary, job and employer. Don’t waste their time with an “I’ll take anything” approach. Similarly, don’t apply for jobs you’re not qualified for. There are people behind the systems, trying to hire the best fit. Respect their time (and your own). Never, never, never say anything negative about past employers or contacts. Negativity has no place  in the job search. Period.

One of my favorite stories of integrity is about Babe Zaharias, a champion amateur golfer in the 1932 Olympics (later professional). She once penalized herself two strokes when she realized she accidentally played the wrong ball. “Why did you do it?” asked a friend. “No one saw you. No one would have known the difference.” “I would have known,” answered Babe.

As a job seeker and candidate, your integrity matters 24/7. It extends above honesty. It means doing the right thing regardless of circumstances or consequences. It means doing the right thing even if no one is looking.

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Biography

Barb Poole, Founder and President of Hire Imaging, LLC, has more than 25 years’ experience as a career coach, strategist and writer, helping clients worldwide in all industries and levels with career transitions ranging from jumpstarting and changing careers, to maximizing current success on the job. Through her one-on-one virtual coaching, she is known for her ability to help people explore, find, get and keep their career dreams. She has been retained by c-level and senior leaders, as well as middle management professionals on down to front-line organizational talent. She also provides corporate outplacement, working with exiting employees to empower each for a successful transition. Barb served as a Career Consultant with Ricklin-Echikson Associates, providing global transition assistance and career management services for corporations that included IBM, Eaton and UPS.  She was Human Resources Director for a national wholesaler; and wrote hiring policies, interview strategies, and job descriptions for a 14-county non-profit emergency medical services agency.

She received a Bachelor’s degree in English and Communications; and has earned the credentials as a Certified Career Management Coach, Certified Leadership and Talent Management Coach, Professional in Human Resources, Certified 360° REACH Personal Brand Assessment (administrator), and triple-resume-writing certifications. She is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management, Career Management Alliance, National Resume Writers Association, Professional Resume Writers and Career Coaches, and Career Directors International. She serves on CDI’s Resume Certification Committee, and has won multiple CDI Toast of the Resume Industry (TORI) awards, including first place. She currently serves as a judge in this international competition.

A recent transplant to the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, she graduated from her former central Minnesota city’s Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program, served on the Chamber’s the Workforce Development Committee, and was a keynote speaker on career issues. Growing up as the daughter of a career Air Force officer, living in multiple states and overseas, Barb experienced firsthand the challenges of family relocation and career changes. She absolutely loves providing her clients with the resources, empathetic support and objective, gentle accountability nudge to help them take baby steps that turn into broad jumps!

Reach or Find Barb at  http://hireimaging.com/ ;  http://twitter.com/#!/hireimaging ; http://www.linkedin.com/in/hireimaging

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