Employer Pledge of Honesty

Let’s Restore Trust in Hiring

The hiring process is broken. Job seekers are jumping through endless hoops, encountering fake jobs, and being ghosted after interviews. These practices aren’t just frustrating; they erode trust, dehumanize candidates, and damage the employer’s reputation. It’s time for a change.

At the heart of this issue is a lack of transparency and respect. If we want to rebuild trust in the hiring process, it starts with radical honesty and unshakable integrity. That’s why I’m introducing the Employer Pledge of Honesty and Transparency: a bold commitment to treating job seekers with the respect, honesty, and fairness they deserve.

The Employer Pledge of Honesty and Transparency

1. Post Only Real Jobs.
   No more placeholders or pipelining tactics. Every job listing will represent a genuine, actively hiring position. Over 40% of companies admit to posting fake jobs, perpetuating a cycle of mistrust. These practices destroy confidence, waste time, and harm relationships.

2. Communicate with Transparency.
   Candidates deserve clarity. Companies must provide upfront details about the hiring timeline, stages, and outcomes, with timely updates at every step of the way. Transparency shows respect and builds trust.

3. Respect Candidates’ Time.
   Endless interviews and redundant tasks waste everyone’s time. Streamlined, purposeful application processes demonstrate that a company values a candidate’s effort.

4. Provide Timely Communication and Constructive Feedback.
   Radio silence after interviews is unacceptable. Candidates should receive timely updates and actionable feedback. Constructive feedback shows candidates they’re valued and helps them grow, even if they aren’t selected.

5. Ensure Fair and Inclusive Hiring.
   Every candidate deserves an equal shot. Companies must actively combat bias and create fair opportunities for all backgrounds. Fairness is non-negotiable.

6. Include Transparent Compensation Information.
   No more vague promises of “competitive salaries.” Clear compensation expectations, disclosed upfront, save everyone time and set the foundation for honest discussions.

7. Value the Human Behind the Résumé.
   Candidates are more than bullet points on a page. Companies must commit to seeing the person behind the résumé, valuing their story, potential, and unique contributions.

8. Build Trust Through Respect.
   How companies treat candidates during the hiring process defines their reputation. Respectful, transparent processes build trust, attract top talent, and foster long-term success. Without respect, there’s no trust—and without trust, there’s no talent.

A Call to Action

The Employer Pledge of Honesty and Transparency is more than just a set of principles; it’s a call to action.

To HR Leaders: Commit publicly to these principles. Lead the charge for transparent, human-centered hiring practices that build trust and attract the best talent.

To Job Seekers: Use this pledge as a tool in your interviews. Ask potential employers how they’re living up to these principles and hold them accountable.

To Everyone: Share this pledge with your network to spark change and drive the conversation forward. Together, we can create a job market where respect, honesty, and transparency thrive.

Let’s restore humanity to hiring—one pledge at a time.