You mentioned developing an ethical approach to business. In the recruiting industry there will always be a problem regarding ethics and standards, if there continues to be no barriers to entry. What I mean by barriers is Certification, accredidation, fees, something to retard entry.

Today, with the low barriers anyone, and I mean ANYONE can be a recruiter. All one needs is a pocket full of change, a telephone and presto, you can call yourself a recruiter. Gee, a license – feggetaboutit, education/knowledge about recruiting standards -feggeataboutit.

Recently I was joking, you know what the legal/mortgage/insurance/financial industries would be like without self regulation — the recruiting industry..

Yes, I do come down on the industry and quite a bit. It is a shame that people can have so much power, and privvy to so much privacy information.. Yes, Ami, private information.. There are many of us who will get social security numbers as TPR’s, and the staffing world, that of course is power of the course..

Yet, bring up conversations on ETHICS and LAWS in this industry, and gee, the Hammer will come down on you! All of a sudden you will be labled the Ethics police, the Detractor! Argument’s are made about ethics are personal, subjective, objective..Yeah, I know, ’cause that hammer comes down hard on me, every time I push these topics..

I recently received an email from someone who mentioned that all they learnt from their boss was how to be unethical, to lie and be dishonest.. Yes, that is pretty much a form of many of the emails I recieve actually from people who are having problems sleeping at night, and want to learn a better way, but they don’t know where to get that information.

Less than 3 percent of this industry belong an industry association Ami, and even less even know who our oldest and most noted associations are. Which means Ami, they came into this industry w/o being aware of the Standards of this industry. The standards which promote ethical welfare, goodwill to themselves, other recruiters, and of course our clients and applicants.

This is indeed a good post, a great post, and as Maureen Said, many will be scared of approaching, because they themselves don’t want that Hammer to come down on them.. gee, who wants to go through the Hell that I went through last year..

Granted, I put myself through that by continuing to push the postion on knowledge of education, laws, and standards in this industry. I will continue to do so, because I stand my ground, this industry needs to be SELF Regulated.. (no that Does NOT mean Government Regulated. I don’t condone government regulation. Too expensive, and darn if a government official can understand what I do each day! sure won’t want them to tell me how to manage my business)

This industry needs an enema.. for sure! Higher barrier to entry – education and testing should be a requisite.. and by george some type of licensing number, and for goodness sake a board of ethics… and if we don’t do it ourselves, well the Government may just come back and do it for us Again.. (NJ is already trying to cleanse there)

Ah, I ramble as usual, but this is my hot button Ami.. it is as I watch people disregard the word Privacy, confidential, and believe that it is a second nature to lie, and damage reputations, trust, and bring disorder into companies or peoples lives.. All for the mighty dollar.

I close with this.. my husband joked one day and said a man can be killed in America for 100 bucks, get the job done well for 1000, well he said what do you think a person would do for the average fee of a recruiter.. 15-20K.. Especially if there is Nothing, or Anyone who is overseeing their actions?

I echo what Kyle said.. is there a solution? Can we discuss that then! ’cause the conversation of ethics in this industry hits walls.. big, high, thick concrete walls.. the same walls that the unethical behavior is driving us ethical individuals businesses into..

This is my truth, what is Yours?

I am not defending, rationalizing, justifying or promoting lying. I’m simply suggesting that until we can acknowledge that we do it, it happens, we may not be able to adopt a position of truthfulness in our dealings as a matter of course, as a matter of pride, in pursuit of excellence. I concede that it easier to lie when you realize it is just a default communications strategy – and it is – or a device for manipulation that we all carry around in our personal and professional tool box. It’s a part of human biology. Coming to terms with this condition – as I suggest in the post – is a step in the right direction for developing an ethical approach to business.

Amitai

Lying has its purpose – if only to show itself for what it is, and for what it is not. “Having a place” and “belonging” are apples and oranges and construing the two words as meaning the same thing does not serve this discussion fairly.

You asked me to think about this…

Maureen

Thanks for not keeping your comments to yourself

There is indeed a difference between the harmless lie to help keep one’s children innocent, or your friend happy from direct outright damaging or destructive misrepresentation business misrepresentation..

One can land you in federal courts the other may have someone giving you flowers and a kiss – with a thanks so much mommy..

Lying does not belong in business. In any shape way or form. Lying to candidates or clients doesn’t just hurt your business, and reputation but can affect the lives of individuals and the welfare of companies.

One does Not EVER have to lie either to gain information, source, recruit, or any aspect of the Recruiting Process. I have never lied in my tenure as a recruiter. Okay, I take that back, tried it once on the suggestion of a friend, didn’t like it, felt uncomfortable and ended up telling the truth..

Never understood the reasoning behind the ruse call when there are more legitimate ways to gain information.

Yes, Ami, this is great post, and does make one think, okay, so I fibbed to my kids.. but when I think of what I do for a living. How every call that I make can impact the life of an individual, their families lives… How the wrong candidate can hurt a company tremendously (Tyco comes to mind) then I realize that this job is MORE than Sales.. it is more than just presentation of Names on a piece of paper..

This job is about Humans, we deal with People, and I wonder if that is why there is a Human in Human Resources.. We have more power to destroy than we give ourselves credit for..

And for sure, lying does not belong in this industry.. Is there also any wonder that the FTC, BBB, and SBA all have pages set up on how to deal with Recruiters.. of all the industries in the world, they choose to have pages about Us..

Makes me think.. what about you..

Karen Mattonen

Rich Goldberg
Lawrence Personnel
rgoldberg@lawrencepersonnel.com