Six of us worked in the warehouse at the Telephone Company. We coded everything and rarely had to search for any of the inventory. We used forklifts and stackers to move inventory as it arrived and as we filled orders. Talk about a fun job, this was it. We worked as a team, joked, laughed, and became good friends.
The company would publish brochures, assessments, training manuals and books for the company’s employees. On breaks, we would read and study that stuff. Sometimes we would look for typos, misspelled words, and things that were of interest to us. Our boss Leo kept us in line and busy. In the rare occasion we were not filling orders, Leo would have us clean and straighten up the warehouse.
As much as I loved the working there, I wanted to work in the central-office switch-room to learn telephony electronics. I finally had enough time in to bid on a central-office job opening. To get the job I was required to successfully take a test and survive two interviews. The interviews went very well, but I became a little anxious as I sat down to take the test.
This test looked very familiar. it is one of the tests we stocked in the warehouse. All six warehouse workers had memorized the questions and answers to all the tests we stocked. It made us feel smarter. I completed that test in record time and answered all the questions correctly. The person giving me the test said they had never had anyone complete the test so rapidly and without error.
I had to tell them I had an unfair advantage. Technically, I did not have to tell them, but I knew it was the right thing to do, so I did. The supervisors did not know what to do. Should they disqualify me or promote me? That became the question.
Because of my honesty, they decided to give me the job. I was extremely happy. I had not wavered on my core values. Over the next few years, I continued to be promoted at the telephone company. Then, I landed my dream job, and it was only because I had told the truth.
“They are called “Core Values” because they are deep rooted beliefs with tremendous value.”
By Bill Fix
The People Pastor