Comments on: Should we present ourselves more honestly? http://yworking.com/attitude/should-we-present-ourselves-more-honestly/ generation y is at your service. sort of. Tue, 27 Mar 2012 06:33:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Kathlyn http://yworking.com/attitude/should-we-present-ourselves-more-honestly/comment-page-1/#comment-130 Kathlyn Tue, 09 Sep 2008 15:07:28 +0000 http://yworking.com/?p=148#comment-130 Here's a strategy for being honest in interviews - actually at work and in anything in life - be prepared to take care of yourself. Have I ever tried this? No. Because I racked up mountains of consumer debt and never had a savings. Recently, I changed that and when my current job really started to go downhill, I quit. Now I'm looking at a job hunt and because I have some financial security (not much, but enough) I do intend to be honest in my interviews - because interviews *should* be a conversation, not a test. My lying about my work style or why I want a job will not do anyone any good and there are a few employers that understand that. Those are the people you want to work for! There will always be those stupid questions - what's your greatest weakness - but really, if your "greatest weakness" is that you like to start work at 10 a.m. and can't make it in by 9, you are likely a kick-ass employee. Most of the people I manage can't make it in by 9 but that's nowhere *near* their biggest weakness. You can probably spin that question. And when I say spin, I don't mean lie - you can make a difference by how you talk to people. You can say "my biggest weakness is probably a tendency to work late into the night so early mornings are rough for me. Is there any flexibility in the start to the work day?" That makes the employer think about how rigid their rules are. And let's be honest, if you are the kind of person who just can't make it in by 9 and it's mandatory that you do, you won't succeed at that job. I think you have to consider if anything you're after is worth giving up who you really are - and then make sure you have your own way of supporting yourself (financially, emotionally, etc.) to make sure you don't have to compromise who you are. You won't ever fit in with any company (or any relationship) by trying to be something you're not. Here’s a strategy for being honest in interviews – actually at work and in anything in life – be prepared to take care of yourself. Have I ever tried this? No. Because I racked up mountains of consumer debt and never had a savings. Recently, I changed that and when my current job really started to go downhill, I quit. Now I’m looking at a job hunt and because I have some financial security (not much, but enough) I do intend to be honest in my interviews – because interviews *should* be a conversation, not a test. My lying about my work style or why I want a job will not do anyone any good and there are a few employers that understand that. Those are the people you want to work for! There will always be those stupid questions – what’s your greatest weakness – but really, if your “greatest weakness” is that you like to start work at 10 a.m. and can’t make it in by 9, you are likely a kick-ass employee. Most of the people I manage can’t make it in by 9 but that’s nowhere *near* their biggest weakness. You can probably spin that question. And when I say spin, I don’t mean lie – you can make a difference by how you talk to people. You can say “my biggest weakness is probably a tendency to work late into the night so early mornings are rough for me. Is there any flexibility in the start to the work day?” That makes the employer think about how rigid their rules are. And let’s be honest, if you are the kind of person who just can’t make it in by 9 and it’s mandatory that you do, you won’t succeed at that job.

I think you have to consider if anything you’re after is worth giving up who you really are – and then make sure you have your own way of supporting yourself (financially, emotionally, etc.) to make sure you don’t have to compromise who you are. You won’t ever fit in with any company (or any relationship) by trying to be something you’re not.

]]> By: Ferris http://yworking.com/attitude/should-we-present-ourselves-more-honestly/comment-page-1/#comment-125 Ferris Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:48:09 +0000 http://yworking.com/?p=148#comment-125 I've played with the idea of how an honest interview would go and its similar to what you said. "To be honest I just want to make as much money as I can, doing work that I love. If I don't love it, then I want as much money for as little actual work as possible. Ever heard of the 10-80-10 phenomenon? 10% of workers will succeed in any position you put them in. 80% are there to get a steady paycheck, and the other 10% exist only to bring as many people down as possible. Instead of pretending to be the good 10%, I readily admit to being in the majority. Oh yeah, how much time do I get to slack on any given day?" I don't know if there's a cure to this problem. Everyone's just doing their best to get by. You are really hitting on something when you say that we can't seem to stick around long enough to get to the good stuff. I guess there's this fear that since we don't like what we are currently doing, we might not like what we end up doing even when we finally get to the good stuff. I’ve played with the idea of how an honest interview would go and its similar to what you said.

“To be honest I just want to make as much money as I can, doing work that I love. If I don’t love it, then I want as much money for as little actual work as possible. Ever heard of the 10-80-10 phenomenon? 10% of workers will succeed in any position you put them in. 80% are there to get a steady paycheck, and the other 10% exist only to bring as many people down as possible. Instead of pretending to be the good 10%, I readily admit to being in the majority. Oh yeah, how much time do I get to slack on any given day?”

I don’t know if there’s a cure to this problem. Everyone’s just doing their best to get by. You are really hitting on something when you say that we can’t seem to stick around long enough to get to the good stuff. I guess there’s this fear that since we don’t like what we are currently doing, we might not like what we end up doing even when we finally get to the good stuff.

]]> By: Matt Elliott http://yworking.com/attitude/should-we-present-ourselves-more-honestly/comment-page-1/#comment-120 Matt Elliott Mon, 04 Aug 2008 19:12:26 +0000 http://yworking.com/?p=148#comment-120 Yep, but I'm not sure that will really curb things much. For most people, small lies and misinformation can easily be justified -- if it gets you the job, then why NOT do it? Even if it comes back and eventually causes you to lose the position, you could (probably rightly) convince yourself that you wouldn't have obtained the job at all were you honest in the first place. It's a tough situation. I wish there were easier answers. Yep, but I’m not sure that will really curb things much. For most people, small lies and misinformation can easily be justified — if it gets you the job, then why NOT do it? Even if it comes back and eventually causes you to lose the position, you could (probably rightly) convince yourself that you wouldn’t have obtained the job at all were you honest in the first place.

It’s a tough situation. I wish there were easier answers.

]]> By: jrandom42 http://yworking.com/attitude/should-we-present-ourselves-more-honestly/comment-page-1/#comment-119 jrandom42 Fri, 01 Aug 2008 20:17:12 +0000 http://yworking.com/?p=148#comment-119 Haven't there been a number of high profile firings over lying on resumes and in interviews already? I think a number of them are the subject of legal action now. One of the more high profile ones was a prospective head football coach at Notre Dame. Haven’t there been a number of high profile firings over lying on resumes and in interviews already? I think a number of them are the subject of legal action now. One of the more high profile ones was a prospective head football coach at Notre Dame.

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