By Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter
I used to be an executive recruiter. Everyone lied to me.
Candidates lied to me to create a positive impression so I represent them.
Institutional customers would lie to me about the status of the search so I would continue to work for them.
My coworkers lied to me as well.
I’m sure many times I lied to the people I was representing, too, to cover up for my institutional client and my coworkers and string them along.
I did because I was afraid.
I was afraid to annoy the candidate who might be placeable and help me earn a fee.
I was afraid to annoy the institutional customer who hired me and was, hopefully, going to pay me that fee.
I was afraid to annoy my coworker who might have a candidate for one of my clients or a client for one of my candidates who they wouldn’t represent because they were angry at me.
Fear is the predicate for any compromise of integrity.
I knew at the right thing was and made the mistake of tolerating the BS from everyone.
Don’t get me wrong. I earned a great living for many years and people trusted me.
And I made a mistake and should’ve done it differently.
You don’t have to miss make the mistakes I made. You can do it differently.
Ask questions.
I was just listening to a story about how college football players are threatening to opt-out of the current season unless certain demands are met. They want to be compensated and have insurance coverage provided for six years after they played for the school because they are at risk for the pandemic and other injuries.
They start by asking questions. They understood what the risks are and I started to speak up.
Yes, they are at risk of losing their professional career but, more importantly, they are at risk for their health.
Can’t you also ask questions?
Can’t you also get clarification after you hear the answer that you are given rather than grunting and putting up with BS?
Come on! You are an adult.
You can do it. I learned to do it later on.
You have to wait as long as I did.
Ⓒ The Big Game Hunter, Inc., Asheville, NC 2020, 2021
ABOUT JEFF ALTMAN, THE BIG GAME HUNTER
Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter is a career and leadership coach who worked as a recruiter for more than 40 years. He is the host of “No BS Job Search Advice Radio,” the #1 podcast in iTunes for job search with more than 2200 episodes, and is a former 
member of The Forbes Coaches Council.
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