Employment Brand
10 04 2009I used to tell people that I graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Now, I’m considering re-writing my resume and online profiles to simply reflect that I graduated from “A university in Colorado.”
Why? It’s simple, really. I’m unwilling to be associated with that particular institution so long as it employs Ward Churchill. If you haven’t caught the story in the press, it’s pretty straightforward: The guy lied, plagiarized work, said some rather flattering things about terrorists, and some very unflattering things about their victims. He was then fired. A jury recently decided (quite independently of the facts, in my not so humble opinion) that this was a case of wrongful termination, and a judge is in the process of deciding if Churchill will get his job back.
If he does get his job back, I can guarantee you that until the University gets rid of him, I won’t put my name next to it.
So, what does this have to do with your company? A lot, so long as your company exists in the public eye. I know that I’m not the only young person who is unwilling to be associated with those who disgust me.
For some young people, images they prefer to associate with are expressed by what they wear (or refuse to wear). For others, it’s manifested in their voting or shopping habits. For job-seekers, this preference can be expressed by never even applying for a position with a company they don’t like, or even quitting if they do find out the company is doing something they don’t like. It’s simple arithmetic:
Bad image
+ Undeserving young person
= Disappearing young person
In interviews I’ve been doing recently, I’ve heard over and over again that dishonesty from a company is something that will make young employees quit their jobs. If a boss is willing to lie to or mistreat customers, it stands to reason that he’d do the same to his employees.
Mine is a generation that will vote with its feet. If we don’t like our pay, responsibilities, boss, or work-a-day habits, we’re out the door. The image of your company is just one more reason we might do that.
Do you have any strategies in place to help your company develop an image that young employees will want to be associated with?
For those who know me there is very little filter that I have from censoring myself from certain comments, but in regards to flat out lies and depception I wouldn’t even bother “creating truths” just to further my own agenda. TJ you are right that Ward is a tool and does not deserve his job.
I work in the car industry, and it can get pretty gritty at times especially when the word “Disclosure” comes up, but ultimately, I think our generation prefers to work for companies where both our working ethics and personal ethics never fall into conflict. Too many times in my field have I seen other co-workers sell themselves and their beliefs out just for monatary gain. (One guy acutally preteneded to be Jewish) I suppose the hardest part is the line between self preservation and principal.