Oftentimes, when I hear a Candidate’s offer of ‘sacrifice’ for the sake of my Company, I feel like getting sick to my stomach.

My immediate reaction is: I don’t believe it; and that is the good option. If I were to believe this person who is trying to impress me by swearing eternal love and sacrifice (should I give them that job), I would get even sicker.

Ayn Rand wrote in her classic (just turned best seller yet again) Atlas Shrugged: “I swear by my life and my love of it that I will never live for the sake of another man, not ask another man to live for mine”.

Respect is fundamental in any relationship, including the workplace. Respect includes the individual’s right to self-fulfillment by pursuing own growth, interests, satisfaction of one’s needs and happiness (thanks Declaration of Independence).

As a Hiring Manager, I seek to employ people who know what is good for them and have the courage to pursue and the honestly to acknowledge it. Devoid of those two conditions, how can I expect they will courageously and honestly fight for my Company or Client?

I also try to stay away from people that will say or promise anything just to get the job. Will the lies or exaggerations stop there?

Healthy companies do not seek slaves, zombies or robots. We want ambitious individuals who realize that the better they perform for my Company/Client, the better it is for them as it advances their career and self interests.

Asking somebody to put their own interests aside for the benefit of mine is unfair, unrealistic and self-defeating. It invites hypocrisy and a climate of dishonesty. By all means, it is unnatural and as such, destined to fail. Who wants to start in that direction?

So if you interview with anyone like me, first tell me what you know about my Company/Client and what the mission is (This tells me you did your homework, you are serious, you can understand and remember. It also shows me that you respect my time). Then tell me about you, your credentials, experience and ambitions. Lastly, tell me how those two match now and how we can grow together.