Corporate ethics important to today's job seekers - Executive Briefing: Strategic Intelligence - Brief Article

HR Magazine, Nov, 2002 by Steve Bates

Corporate ethics is vitally important to job seekers, according to a recent global survey by New York-based consulting firm DBM.

Its canvass of HR and career experts found that 82 percent cite corporate leadership ethics to be important to job seekers today and therefore a major factor in the war for top talent. The experts polled include career transition and career management professionals who work with job seekers at all levels.

"Job seekers are putting more time into researching prospective employers before making a decision on a new job," says Tom Silveri, president of DBM. "Globally, corporations are being held to the highest standards by current and future employees." Silveri says the change is clearly "a global response to the ethical and corporate governance issues that have recently hampered the U.S. market."

Silveri says many applicants will ask hiring managers what values are most appreciated at the company and how those values translate into day-to-day activities. And he notes that applicants can find abundant information about most companies on the Internet.

Steve Bates is senior writer for HR Magazine.