The Unethical Job Search

The Unethical Job Search A few weeks ago I got an email linking to a story about a guy who did something different to land a job.   You can read the entire story here. In short, they guy found a job he really wanted.   Instead of applying for it, he decided to: [pose] as a comparable employer and posted a comparable job opening online. He asked applicants to send a resume, cover letter and salary their requirement. He got dozens of “applications” from poor, unsuspecting job-seekers. His little ruse allowed him to gauge his competition, and to identify an appropriate salary range. With this new-found omniscience,   he applied for the job. And guess what… he got it. This rubbed me wrong, but I couldnt figure out why. Sure, I think its unethical (well there you go, the red flag).   But heres the deal while in a job search its easy to get in a position where you would do something you normally wouldnt do dont you think?   I mean, if your ethics were in-any-way shaky, and you were between a rock and a hard spot, maybe you could bend the unwritten rules just once dont you think? I finally figured out why this rubbed me wrong, no matter how desperate you are. First, its wrong. Its unethical.   You have violated a lot of peoples trust (not in you, directly, but still, trust was violated and you took advantage of unsuspecting people).   That should be reason enough. If that isnt, then heres what I came up with this week: Second, we dont need more shady ethics in our world. It destroyed Enron (I think).   I cant imagine that good ethics has helped GM get to where they are at today.   Ethics are a huge issue in our world if you are going to stoop this low to land your job, what will you do to make a sale once you got the job?   Where are the boundaries? Keep moving boundaries and Im sure to not want to hire you I cant have unethical things going on in my business can I? Would you like to work for someone who is unethical?   (IT SUCKS, trust me) Would you like to work at a company with shady ethics? Then why would you land that job with questionable ethics? I get the I have to survive thing.   Been there.   Working through it.   But lowering your standards should not be acceptable. Think this is a black-and-white subject?   Read the comments its polarized unethical behavior is applauded by some and frowned upon by others. Where do you stand? The Unethical Job Search A few weeks ago I got an email linking to a story about a guy who did something different to land a job.   You can read the entire story here. In short, they guy found a job he really wanted.   Instead of applying for it, he decided to: [pose] as a comparable employer and posted a comparable job opening online. He asked applicants to send a resume, cover letter and salary their requirement. He got dozens of “applications” from poor, unsuspecting job-seekers. His little ruse allowed him to gauge his competition, and to identify an appropriate salary range. With this new-found omniscience,   he applied for the job. And guess what… he got it. This rubbed me wrong, but I couldnt figure out why. Sure, I think its unethical (well there you go, the red flag).   But heres the deal while in a job search its easy to get in a position where you would do something you normally wouldnt do dont you think?   I mean, if your ethics were in-any-way shaky, and you were between a rock and a hard spot, maybe you could bend the unwritten rules just once dont you think? I finally figured out why this rubbed me wrong, no matter how desperate you are. First, its wrong. Its unethical.   You have violated a lot of peoples trust (not in you, directly, but still, trust was violated and you took advantage of unsuspecting people).   That should be reason enough. If that isnt, then heres what I came up with this week: Second, we dont need more shady ethics in our world. It destroyed Enron (I think).   I cant imagine that good ethics has helped GM get to where they are at today.   Ethics are a huge issue in our world if you are going to stoop this low to land your job, what will you do to make a sale once you got the job?   Where are the boundaries? Keep moving boundaries and Im sure to not want to hire you I cant have unethical things going on in my business can I? Would you like to work for someone who is unethical?   (IT SUCKS, trust me) Would you like to work at a company with shady ethics? Then why would you land that job with questionable ethics? I get the I have to survive thing.   Been there.   Working through it.   But lowering your standards should not be acceptable. Think this is a black-and-white subject?   Read the comments its polarized unethical behavior is applauded by some and frowned upon by others. Where do you stand?