Slashdot Mirror
Honesty/Ethics In Job Applications?
jt007 writes "I am a student in the UK who graduates from a computing course in a matter of weeks, and am starting to look for graduate jobs. One problem though, a friend and I are going travelling in about 15 months (obviously I need the job to pay for the trip!). Do I tell my employers this before I start work and potentially harm my chances of getting the job, or do I just shaft them in 15 months time? I would be interested in finding out in particular how IT managers out there would react to being put in a situation like this? Would it harm any chances of a reference for a future job? So the question is: is it best to keep quiet about my plans, or is honesty the best policy?" Look at it this way: if the company planned to close your office in 15 months would they tell you? If you were leaving in a much shorter period of time I'd think you should tell them, they might be rather annoyed to train you in a job and then have you depart and you might not be able to use them as a reference in the future. But 15 months? If you tell them, not only would you risk not getting the job because of it, your plans might change before then and you'd have lost the job for nothing.
How long are you going to be away on this trip? If it's only two or three weeks, you may be able to save up vacation/sick time or make a deal with your employer.
I'ld be fine in just having them give more "realistic" job descriptions.
:)
Don't ask me to count how many job descriptions I've seen for a sysadmin that make it look like you have to be a kernel hacker
HR departments just use buzz words for IT jobs and it's obvious they don't know what they are talking about.
It makes it exteremly dificult to gauge what is really wanted when the person doing the initial contact can't explain why they list C++ and TCP/IP and HTTP for a Sys Admin job....but they can't outright tell you it's a Sys Admin job because they don't know!!! Many of the job descriptions I see want someone who can write the software they are using.
Not necessarily true. I lasted six months at my first job, and a year (and counting) at my second real gig. Of course if you count my two weeks at WeConsultDodgily and another two weeks in the glorious fast food industry inbetween jobs you probably come out with an *average* more like three months, but if the job isn't an obvious deathtrap it would be unusual for IT folks in Au lasting shorter than that.
-- INTX Grouch. http://www.midnightblue.net
I am not an IT manager, but I have been the employee in this situation.
I recently left a job in order to return to school for a Masters. This was my first job after my Bachelors, and I left the job after less than a year.
My managers were very understanding, even though I left in the middle of a development cycle. I expect to be able to use these managers as positive references.
The bottom line is that you need to do what is best for you. There can be consequences, but you need to weigh what is important to you.
You don't necessarily need to sacrifice honesty! Eventually, my managers inquired about my long term goals with the company. This was the point that I announced my intentions, rather than hiding them from direct inquiry. I think that this honesty was appreciated and will positively effect any future contact that I may have with my managers.
Good luck with your decision!