Ethics and integrity play a critical role in long-term career success. While there are great philosophical debates about ethics, there are universal ethical boundaries that should always be honored. Here are some simple tips to help you demonstrate your integrity and ethics while in the job search as well as when on the job.

	Honesty Is The Best Policy It may sound cliche, but there is a tremendous amount of truth in this phrase. Having ethics and integrity in regards to work is a critical component to long-term success. When searching for work you should refrain from lying about or embellishing your experience or skills, and when on the job you should be honest about how you spend your time and other components of your work.
	Be Mindful Of How You Represent The Company As an employee, you are an extension of the company’s brand, and with that comes the responsibility to represent the organization in a professional way. When talking with a client, vendor, or to the general public – always take the time to consider how your words or actions could impact your employer or event your employment.
	Respect Other People’s Property To thrive at work and build strong relationships founded on trust with both your peers and the company, you must commit to respecting the property of others. From safeguarding and protecting the company’s intellectual property and/or sensitive data, to not claiming a co-worker’s special snack in the break room as your own, to not taking credit for someone else’s work, or refraining from outright theft – you have a responsibility to being a trustworthy member of the team.
	Refrain From Speaking Ill of Others Perhaps you have experienced some frustrating moments with co-workers, or are dealing with some professional personality conflicts, or have some gripes about the company or a former employer – it happens. But no matter how justified you feel in your frustrations, it is important to rise above it and avoid petty gossip and unproductive venting. When a frustration goes beyond a trivial annoyance and could be having a negative impact on the company or the workplace environment it is important to address those concerns professionally using the proper channels.