Integrity is important. For employers, it is one of the most valued characteristics an employee can have. In a perfect world, everyone would be honest on resumes, during interviews and in the workplace long after their co-workers have departed. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. We tell lies out of fear, anxiety, or doubt of not having, not attaining, or not wanting. Your Dallas, Houston, South Texas and McKinney staffing agency understands the importance of being honest, and we would like to provide you with reasons for avoiding telling those little, white lies.

NEVER LIE ABOUT SKILLS YOU DON’T HAVE

It can be tempting to exaggerate about having a particular skill set, especially if that skill set is closely related to the skill set you actually have. There is a high probability that your interviewer is not just asking about these skills to gauge your untapped potential. Your interviewer needs to know for certain that you can execute, and the day will come when you will be asked to complete a task that requires that skill set. If you don’t possess them and can’t complete the task, then everything you are capable of will be questioned going forward and may even cost you the position.

“MY GREATEST WEAKNESS IS THAT [INSERT ROMANTICIZED RESPONSE HERE]”

Again, as stated earlier, nobody is perfect. The person interviewing you knows this, your Dallas, Houston, South Texas and McKinney staffing agency knows this and you know this, so you should be honest about areas of your professional life that you need to improve on. So rather than give an answer that has some false upside to it, you should search within and give an answer about an aspect of yourself that you actually need to improve on. This will show the interviewer that you are self-reflective, you desire growth, and that you’re willing to be honest with yourself and others.

BE HONEST ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR PREVIOUS EMPLOYER

A common misconception is that your interviewer will not contact your previous employer. While this may sometimes be the case, professional networks are smaller than you may think. You never know how your current employer and previous employer will cross paths, especially if they are in the same industry. If you and your previous employer have differing accounts about what your experience was like at your previous job, then chances are your current employer will think you have more of a reason to stretch the truth than your previous employer does.

Honesty pays off. It may not always make for the most perfect anecdotes, but it will pay dividends in the long run in both your professional and personal life. Your Dallas, Houston, South Texas and McKinney staffing agency advocates integrity in every situation always, not only because it’s the right thing to do, but it sets the example for others around you! Contact us today for more information on how we can assist you with your job search.