Acting with integrity is crucial for job seekers and candidates who are seeking to reach their professional goals and grow their careers. However, it’s important to remember that acting with integrity is something you should do ALL of the time and not just some of the time.
During the hiring process is definitely a time to act with integrity, for a number of reasons. First, you’re attempting to convince an employer to hire you. Second, you’re branding yourself both personally and professionally. Third, you don’t want to “burn bridges” that can come back to haunt you later in your career.
The #1 way to act with integrity during the hiring process is to do what you say you’re going to do. That not only brands you as a person of integrity, but it also brands you as someone who is dependable. And dependability is one of the traits that employers desire the most in a new employee.
If you say that you’re going to be available for a phone call, then make sure that you’re available. If you say that you’re going to show up for a face-to-face interview, then make sure that you show up. And if you accept an offer of employment and say that you’re going to start work in two weeks, then make sure that you start work in two weeks.
These are all examples of doing what you say you’re going to do and acting with integrity. Don’t sacrifice your integrity or compromise yourself for what looks like a short-term gain. Remember that your career is a long-term investment. I’ve seen too many candidates over the years make mistakes that have caused them to lose out on career opportunities in the long run and I don’t want this to happen to you.