Transparency Matters

Have you ever been through a job interview that takes months? It feels like you’re going through a full inspection process from head to toe. Then, you may learn that the employer was hiding something from you all along. This is not an uncommon experience, and it’s one that employers should consider carefully.

It’s not uncommon for job seekers to go through ten rounds of interviews for one job. Along the way, the job seeker may be asked to take a personality test. They may be asked to take an IQ test or do a homework assignment. They are asked to submit references who can speak about their character. They are expected to go through a thorough background check. And often, they are expected to volunteer personal details about their family situation, such as whether or not they have a spouse and children.

There is an expectation that a candidate should be comfortable disclosing every detail of their personal and professional life. But, strangely, the employer does not feel the same sense of responsibility to share the same level of transparency with the candidate.

For example, on multiple occasions, the hiring manager who hired me is not the hiring manager I’ve ended up working for. In one instance, my hiring manager quit on my second day. He knew in advance of hiring me that this would be the case, but never disclosed it to me. In another situation, the person who hired me switched me to another manager just days before starting.

Why does this matter? When you interview, you agree to a certain situation. Everyone has had a bad boss. Your boss can make or break your work experience.

Similarly, some companies hire remote employees. Then, after the fact, they ask those same employees to move in order to be close to the office so they can begin coming in every day.

There are also companies with open floor plans. Because most employees do not like an open floor plan, the companies who have them often do not disclose the setup in advance of the employee’s first day. For many people, an open office just doesn’t work for them. They need either an office or a cubicle to focus and to produce their best work. In these cases, it seems the employer knows that an interview candidate may walk away from the job if they learn it is an open office. So, the company waits until the first day to disclose this critical information.

Companies want a candidate to show up as the person they represented themselves as during the interview process. Similarly, candidates expect the company to show up in the same way on their first day. When you surprise a candidate with unforeseen circumstances, you may be setting that new employee up for failure. And, at a bare minimum, you are breaking their trust. Transparency is a two-way street, even in a tight job market.

I hope these tips have helped you. Visit CopelandCoaching.com to find more tips to improve your job search. If I can be of assistance to you, don’t hesitate to reach out to me here.

Happy hunting!

Angela Copeland
@CopelandCoach