By SYCORAX TIYESA NDHLOVU

Almost all good books on job hunting strategies advise job seekers to be honest in what they write in job application letters and in their curriculum vitae (CV)as well as  what they say during personal job interviews.
But how helpful is such advice in an environment where most of the organisation’s top officials are not honest; and, therefore, are corrupt, selfish and greedy leading to gross abuse of their offices where in some cases some workers are employed on nepotism and on bribery basis?
The purpose of this article is to show how sometimes honesty can be an advantage or a disadvantage depending on the society in which one lives. In the process, this article aims at reminding ourselves that when dishonesty reaches certain levels in society, including government institutions, the honest and the poor can be disadvantaged, die in poverty, while the dishonest swim in riches.
A situation where the honest and the poor are disadvantaged because most decisions are subjective; and, therefore, irrational is not only contrary to democratic and Christian values but also leads to high unemployment and high poverty levels in the same society. This is because most of the people employed in those positions in that society might not be the right people to executive those duties effectively and efficiently to achieve organisations’ objectives and in the process address national development challenges.
This article has been conceptualised from what was discussed in one of the past articles on crafting your CV for successful job hunting strategies which appeared in Times of Zambia on February 22, 2014 on page 9.
One of the points that was raised in that article was that don’t tell lies in your CV to get that job.
Some of our esteemed readers who didn’t want to be named said that it is difficult to be honest in a CV because of high levels of competition among job seekers and, therefore, one should try to show that he or she is the best even if that is not the case.
But some readers also said that being honest is a disadvantage because some people fear that those who are honest in an organisation can be whistleblowers on some malpractices in some organisations. It was argued that it is from such a perception that in most organisations where some top management officials are dishonest, those who are honest always have their contracts terminated within a short time for no apparent reasons.
One woman, who works in the accounts department of a government ministry, said most juniors are used by senior officers to siphon huge sums of money from government coffers but nothing happens to such juniors and their respective seniors who use them.
She continued to say that those who are honest and principled, coupled with professional ethics and code of conduct, are sidelined and fired or transferred within a short time because they are not in tandem with the personal and selfish malpractices some workers and some top officials do in that organisation.
Moreover, it has been argued that being honest is difficult where and when one sees others enjoying full decent meals in a day with an expensive car parked outside a mansion; and with many other properties from proceeds of crimes, while those who are honest are thin, hungry, thirsty and wallowing in poverty.
It has been argued that honesty doesn’t pay nowadays.
It is from such a background that one joins the bandwagon of dishonest people to avoid being fired for being deviant against the culture of a respective organisation.
But it was noted that when such honest people are fired; they don’t state that your contract has been terminated because you are a square peg in a round hole as far as serving personal and selfish interests are concerned. They use any other excuse.
When you are known to be honest, some dishonest referees will just write or say: ‘You are employing that person at your own risk.’ The risk here means that the person is a lazy, unprofessional, a thief or is a threat to the objectives and goals of any organisation; but that he or she is a threat to personal and selfish interests of some dishonest top management officials in any organisation.
It was argued that in addition to nepotism and bribery, this is how some people find it difficult to find (good) jobs despite their good qualifications that include academic and professional qualifications, experience and skills obtained over a certain period of time.
Answering a question from this writer in mid-1990s when this writer met Brigadier General Godfrey Miyanda in Chipata district that it might be difficult for him to win presidential elections because of his (Gen. Miyanda’s) perceived high honesty levels which are perceived to be ‘higher’ than an average Zambian, Gen Miyanda said there is no half or quarter honesty but only honesty.
To explain further and amplify this illustration on how honesty can advantage or disadvantage some job seekers, allow this writer to mark on the floor ‘A’ to represent those who are honest; ‘B’ those who are half honest; and ‘C’ those who are quarter or less honest. And let all of us go to our respective group as each one of us honestly perceives ourselves as marked ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’. Ok.
You see. No one is in ‘A’. Most of us are in ‘B’ or in ‘C’. Even if Gen Miyanda can be found in ‘A’; he might not be present in all organisations and government departments at all times to receive and support those who are honest; and those who are applying for jobs in those respective organisations.
Now, if this is true, it is beneficial to be honest when one knows that the majority are dishonest; and the likely consequences of being honest in a dishonest environment?
The answer is yes and no.
Yes, because it depends on your goal in life.
How do you want to be remembered in your life? If you want to live an ethical life, continue being honest. Believe in God. God, the Almighty will give you something for your survival. Avoid cheating. Don’t tell lies. Do what you can for your survival within the same environment.
The best way of being the best is not by cheating and telling lies; but by doing the best to achieve your career objectives and goal. As Vince Lombard once said: “If we aim at perfection; we will achieve excellence.” It is only through hard work that one sustainably achieves what they want and excel in life.
No, if there are many other people including top management officials and government leaders involved and, therefore, supporting such dishonesty.
Where dishonesty reaches certain levels, even some human rights are violated and some social services become scarce to the honest and the poor.
Therefore, the debate on who is going to win between the honest and the dishonest is still raging.
Those who are going to win are those who are Christians and believe in democracy.
And reading between the lines, Christianity and democracy promote being honest, objective and fair in all our dealings with others. In short, Christianity and democracy promote high levels of ethical life and ethical business decision-making practice. Matthews 7:12 which states: “Do unto others as you wish them do unto you.”
If you were in the shoes of those who you are making decisions against, how would you feel?
Remember the saying: “Be good to others on your way up as you will need them on your way down.” Those in decision-making positions should be fair for those who are honest to benefit from their personalities.
To those who are honest, don’t despair if you are in a dishonest environment
Time for ethical leadership is coming.
The coming leadership will always demand for those who are honest.
So while one might feel disadvantaged for being honest now; time will soon come when only those who are honest will be rewarded with good jobs.
Therefore, those people who are honest should soldier on because the rewards are great in Heaven. Remain honest
Be an inspiration for positive change. Inspire others in being honest in all dealings despite the short-term challenges you might encounter in being honest.
Be a model in ethical life.
Ignore the short-term benefits of dishonesty.
Those  who are dishonest, to the disadvantage of others, should reflect on their conduct. Start to be honest. Be fair to all. If you want God to be fair to you, why should you be unfair to others?
In short, being honest is an advantage both in the short and long term in job hunting strategies and in any personal and official position because, by being so, we all contribute to making this country a better place to live in for all.
The author is a trainer and career coach.
Contact: Cell: 0976/0977 450151
E-mail: sycoraxtndhlovu@yahoo.co.uk