SECTION 4:
ETHICS AND
REPUTATION
POLICIES
SECTION 4: ETHICS, REPUTATION AND THEIR IMPACT ON YOUR CAREER
Have you heard of the phrase “Six degrees of separation”? It refers to the theory that
everyone is connected by “a friend of a friend”, and the theory is that six introductions can
put you into contact with anyone in the world! Think about a time when you bumped into a
stranger who knew someone who knew your Father, Grandmother or best friend and you
get the idea.
As young interns, it is easy to think that what we do has little or no effect on our future, as
we are still young, just trying out new positions. Perhaps we feel that our behaviour doesn't
matter to anyone else.
In reality the opposite is true, and your attitude and actions can have deep and unintended
consequences on your future and the future of others. This section of the Bridging the GAP
training is designed to show you how this can happen, what the negative consequences
could be, and how to avoid making mistakes that could haunt you for a long time!
The starting point is to realise that your behaviour is important to the company you intern
in, even when resigning and after you leave the company.
Let’s explain using a couple of case studies.
4.1 LEAVING WITHOUT PROPER NOTICE HAS A BIGGER IMPACT THAN YOU THINK
Sam was an intern in a small consulting company. As his contract was coming to an end his
manager called him in for a performance review. In the review Sam said that he would prefer
a job that was less desk-bound and more marketing orientated. His manager agreed that he
had a great ‘sales and marketing personality’ and offered to extend his contract by another
three months in order to give him an opportunity in a new marketing position, where he had
the chance to follow his dream of meeting clients face to face.
However, on the day that the new contract was due to commence, Sam sent an sms to say
he “had decided not to extend the contract. Thanks” and that was the last the company
heard of him.
The manager was disappointed and frustrated, as staff planning was now in disarray, and
having made an exception in creating the new opportunity for Sam, she felt disrespected by
him. She made a note to advise the HR department that should Sam need a reference, to
please advise the new employer of the disrespectful manner in which he left the company.
Learning: It is both accepted practice and the right thing to do for employees to give notice
in writing when resigning. Depending on your type of contract and period of employment,
this notice period is usually between seven days and four weeks, or sometimes more.
Just as an employee would want to be respected and given proper ‘notice’ if a job was
coming to an end – (so he/she could find a new job), so too does a company need ‘notice’ in
order to re-organise staff, recruit and hand over tasks.
Leaving without giving adequate notice, simply not turning up for work or sending an sms
means that you will be remembered for this last disrespectful action, not the good work that
you did. Your actions may also make the employer wary of recruiting another intern.
4.2 ACCEPTING THE WRONG JOB CAN DAMAGE OTHERS TOO
Sarah was hired as an intern by a small business with just 3 employees that was experiencing
fast growth and desperately needed more hands on deck. The business recently learnt about
the concept of internships, and thought that using interns would be a good way to grow the
business and help train some bright young people at the same time.
After a long process of reviewing CVs from GAP and interviewing candidates, the business
hired two new interns to help with this inflow of work.
Sarah was one of these interns, and joined the business’s small hard-working team. During
Sarah’s first week, the business spent time educating her about the company and training
her in the various important tasks she would be taking over in the near future. With the
expanding workload, it was crucial that Sarah was well prepared to perform these tasks.
After one-week of training, and just as Sarah was to begin with her own important tasks,
Sarah simply did not to return to work and never informed the business of her decision.
Sarah has now been black-listed as an intern on the GAP site, and the business has decided
not to hire any more interns as they see them as unreliable and immature.
Learning: Interns should take the recruitment process seriously, and carefully assess if a
business is the right match for them before accepting an internship. Research the company,
ask questions at the interview, and be open about any concerns you may have before you
accept the position.
Once hired though, if you feel that the job/internship is not for you be mature enough to
speak to your manager and discuss why you are not happy. Even the best jobs can feel
difficult, confusing and frustrating in the early weeks, so speaking about it will help and most
managers are very open to this feedback.
If you do decide to leave, write a courteous resignation letter thanking the business for the
opportunity, apologising for any inconvenience and allowing a reasonable notice period
(check your contract to see what this is).
4.3 NO SHOW IS BAD FOR YOUR REPUTATION
A fast-growing alternative energy company registered two new internship positions on the
GAP site. The position was in Cape Town, with great opportunity for advancement, good
working conditions and lots of mentorship support.
A shortlist of ten suitable candidates was provided to the recruitment manager, who
excitedly emailed them each a personal invitation to attend an interview. Of the ten emails
sent out only five grads responded at all, four accepted the interview date, and only two
turned up for the interview.
The manager was so shocked at the lack of enthusiasm and low level of professionalism the
graduates displayed that she is uncertain if South African interns are worth the effort, and
has decided to rather increase their international intern programme.
The no-show graduates have been black-listed on the GAP website, and the grads that did
not respond to the email have been removed from the active list of available candidates.
Learning: Businesses expect people to answer their emails, SMS and telephone calls. Not
answering is considered exceptionally rude. Businesses expect people to honour their word,
and if you say you will be at an interview, be sure you turn up to the interview!
It is considered very unprofessional to ignore an email, especially one inviting you to an
interview. Make a point of checking your emails DAILY, and ALWAYS respond to emails from
interested businesses, even if their offer does not suit you. A polite response to say “Thank
you for your email, however I have decided to decline the invitation as I am seeking a
position closer to home” (for example) is 100% better than silence.
If you change your mind about attending an interview – just as you would hate to be stood
up by a date, let the business know. This is good manners, professional behaviour and will
mean that if in future you change your mind again, you can still go back!
Remember too, that if you respond politely when declining an interview or a position, you
will be remembered fondly by the recruitment team, and often referred to other more
suitable companies.
4.4 DISHONESTY IS NOT OK, EVER!
Thandi was a capable, intelligent and well educated graduate who learned fast, worked hard
and matched the company needs well. After three months of internship her manager noted
that she would like to groom her for a permanent Junior Manager position.
Sadly things changed. Thandi began to arrive late for work in the morning, with all sorts of
excuses ranging from train problems to feeling sick, until the manager called her in to a
meeting to discuss the problem. At the meeting Thandi continued to provide all sorts of lame
excuses for coming late but promised that it would not happen again.
The following week, while waiting for Thandi to arrive (late again) the manager overheard
one of her work-colleagues saying “Thandi is late because she was kicked out of her flat and
now has to travel almost 50km to work each day”.
The manager was shocked that Thandi had been dishonest about her problem, and whilst
sympathetic for the reason, felt she had lost confidence in the integrity and honesty of her
young mentee. She decided not to offer her the permanent position.
Lesson: We know that certain industries such as finance and banking are very strict about
honesty, fraud, criminal records and the like. What we often don't realise is that most
people, and most businesses, view dishonesty as a very serious matter.
Dishonesty includes lying, avoiding responsibility for mistakes, stealing someone’s Coke out
of the fridge, using the company phone for personal calls, taking ‘commission on the side’
for a company purchase and ‘borrowing’ stationary for your still-at-school sister. Dishonesty
has a nasty habit of growing from small lies to bigger ones and can end a work opportunity,
crash a career and even put you in jail.
So make a point of being honest, and remember, if you have to hide what you are doing, it’s
probably wrong – so just don't do it!