Turning Down A Job?
Despite the promising pulse recently discovered in the U.S job market; it remains a murmur. Overall, Americans are relieved. Yet, for citizens surviving at or just above the poverty line (a.k.a middle-class); seemingly, turning down a job offer in today's economy equates financial suicide. Only a fool would shoot themselves in the foot, right? On the contrary, I'm not blogging about the weakened U.S. economy. Sorry, if I misled you. It wasn't intentional. Yet, my concern today is a matter of principle. Would you turn down a job interview or offer if it went against your principles?
Looking for a job is a job. And my morning was the start of a typical job hunter's day when by high noon I found myself sitting in a hot car, parked outside the local Dollar General, contemplating my sanity. I'd already cast my resume and something had taken the bait! My line rang and it was a corporate shark on the other end. She was from that company hiring part-time Study Participants. I listened intently as she ran off the job details and turned out it I was to be conducting a "study" on smokers and "participating" in the product placement of tobacco products for a major tobacco corporation. It was like watching a bad car accident in slow-mo as I went from autopilot to cheerful to ambivalent in all of 60 seconds. As my enthusiasm waned with every word so did my attention span as my mind reeled with the phantoms of loved ones lost to smoking related disease. "I would like to bring you in for an interview," she rambled on. I was lost for words. "Would you be interested Ma'am... Ma'am?" My conscious jolted and I blurted, "I'm sorry but I must respectfully decline. Thank you."
Suddenly, I realized I had done something either profoundly foolish or virtuous. Feeling a strange mixture of liberation and shame; I actually glanced about so see if anyone had noticed my faux pas. What to say for humility? How dare a commoner such as myself turn my nose up at "the man" who signs my checks? I fought those irrelevant systematic thoughts and it didn't take long for me to get over my alleged case of temporary insanity lol. To thine own self be true and as an ex-smoker I am proud of standing up for what I believe in. On to the next one. Luckily, I have but one mouth to feed and that is my own; else making such a decision would have been torturous. Yet, does that fact give me the right to be a martyr? From turning down a part-time gig to refusing to smudge the audit for Bernie Madoff, do our fundamental beliefs give us the right to sacrifice food on the table and unpaid bills? Especially, when there is children involved. When conviction is becoming an eviction should one draw the line? Or should we stand by our fundamental principles at all cost?
Looking for a job is a job. And my morning was the start of a typical job hunter's day when by high noon I found myself sitting in a hot car, parked outside the local Dollar General, contemplating my sanity. I'd already cast my resume and something had taken the bait! My line rang and it was a corporate shark on the other end. She was from that company hiring part-time Study Participants. I listened intently as she ran off the job details and turned out it I was to be conducting a "study" on smokers and "participating" in the product placement of tobacco products for a major tobacco corporation. It was like watching a bad car accident in slow-mo as I went from autopilot to cheerful to ambivalent in all of 60 seconds. As my enthusiasm waned with every word so did my attention span as my mind reeled with the phantoms of loved ones lost to smoking related disease. "I would like to bring you in for an interview," she rambled on. I was lost for words. "Would you be interested Ma'am... Ma'am?" My conscious jolted and I blurted, "I'm sorry but I must respectfully decline. Thank you."
Suddenly, I realized I had done something either profoundly foolish or virtuous. Feeling a strange mixture of liberation and shame; I actually glanced about so see if anyone had noticed my faux pas. What to say for humility? How dare a commoner such as myself turn my nose up at "the man" who signs my checks? I fought those irrelevant systematic thoughts and it didn't take long for me to get over my alleged case of temporary insanity lol. To thine own self be true and as an ex-smoker I am proud of standing up for what I believe in. On to the next one. Luckily, I have but one mouth to feed and that is my own; else making such a decision would have been torturous. Yet, does that fact give me the right to be a martyr? From turning down a part-time gig to refusing to smudge the audit for Bernie Madoff, do our fundamental beliefs give us the right to sacrifice food on the table and unpaid bills? Especially, when there is children involved. When conviction is becoming an eviction should one draw the line? Or should we stand by our fundamental principles at all cost?
Do what's within your Value system and all is well. Never sell yourself short.
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Always stick to your beliefs! Something else will come along :)
ReplyDeleteYour gut instinct is always right... Another door has jut opened for you....
ReplyDeleteHaving other people to support makes it more difficult.....but I think in the final analysis if we stay true to our values - we win! Thank you for being an inspiration, Cheryl.
ReplyDeleteThere's no shame in sticking to your principles, because at the end of the day, when the money is gone, integrity is all we have left. Good for you!
ReplyDeleteGod blesses your money or takes it away. If your money is coming from something against your values, then be sure you will suffer either financially or in other ways. Sounds a little harsh, but been there, done that, lesson learned, seen it in so many examples, even in my own life. God will bless you in more when you stick to your values and don't betray yourself or Him. Keep it up gurl, make Him smile :-) ~Jennie
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