Ethics – Do I Have to Sacrifice My Values to Succeed in Business?

By Joshua Leet

Going From College to Compliance and Ethics

Corporate scandals have shaken the public’s confidence in business leadership, so maybe you’re asking yourself—do I have to sacrifice my values to succeed in business?

While more and more business schools are adding classes in ethics, corporate social responsibility, and business practices that help build equitable and ecologically sustainable economies, you can take your interest a step farther.

There is a career where you can help prevent corporate scandals: the field of “compliance and ethics.”

What is compliance and ethics?

Compliance and ethics (we’ll call it “compliance”) is a career that ensures an organization follows the laws, acts ethically, and does not harm anyone (employees, shareholders, or the public). People who participate in its efforts come from a variety of backgrounds and hold a variety of positions. Compliance people train, educate, investigate, and mediate. They also communicate: compliance depends on management reaching employees and getting the whole organization working in an ethical way.

Why would you want to do this work and how do you prepare?

People across the compliance field offer many different answers to this question. Some of the most common include wanting to do something more than make a dollar and wanting to help organizations accomplish their goals without hurting anyone in the process.

Generally, a law or business degree are highly valued, however, neither is required to enter and succeed in compliance. However, other backgrounds (accounting, medicine, ethics/philosophy, political science) may prepare you specifically for certain types of positions. If you want to work in health care compliance, for instance, you’ll benefit from an understanding of medicine. Furthermore, many people already in the field recommend a liberal arts background for the experience doing research, writing, and communicating.

Christopher Vigale, who worked for the compliance law firm, Compliance Systems Legal Group, was hired as a compliance analyst based on his writing and research skills rather than his knowledge of the field. “My employers weren’t looking for complete compliance knowledge,” he says, “but rather wanted someone with writing skills, oral communication skills and a strong educational background to show that the applicant was a hard worker, as well as used to deadlines.”

Should you get a summer job or internship?

Take any opportunity to learn about the compliance field in a summer job or an internship. You’ll find opportunities in companies that:

• Deal primarily with compliance—training or helpline providers, consulting or legal representation, etc.
• Have a good compliance program—public and active in the business, holding training sessions and putting out internal publications.
• Are considered ethical companies—such as one on Business Ethics Magazine’s 100 Best Corporate Citizens list.

Rodney Smith, a former compliance analyst, became a full-time employee of the company where he interned. “My primary objective on my resume was to find a positive-minded, ethical company to serve my internship with, and they hired me,” he says.

Some organizations known to offer compliance internships include:

• The American Medical Association Ethics Group
• The Ethics and Public Policy Center
• The International Business Ethics Institute

How do you get into compliance?

If you can’t find a prospective employer that way, don’t worry—online job search/listing sites like NACElink list many of these jobs (search for “compliance,” “ethics,” or specific risk-areas like anti-trust or EEO).

Keep in mind that you don’t have to start in compliance to build a career in the field. You could instead start in a related industry (such as starting as a general lawyer/paralegal and then moving into compliance law), or simply in an area that interests you. Once you have some experience in business, you can look to move into the compliance area.

What jobs can you get in compliance?

As a newcomer, probably without a lot of work experience, look at entry-level jobs like “compliance analyst,” a job that typically involves a lot of research and basic compliance footwork, or ‘”call center phone operator,” a position offering in-house help or service to clients. Also, look for job titles like “assistant compliance officer,” “compliance paralegal,” and “compliance specialist”. A lot of these positions will be there for people right out of school, and may require a four-year degree and basic computer knowledge.

In general, most low-level positions will consist of a lot of research and writing.

To find information about compliance and ethics jobs, talk to people in the field and attend open conferences or forums in your area, such as those held at ethics centers and universities.

Above all, just be enthusiastic in pursuing your interests.

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