Approached for a job in a tobacco company

[ApuskiMcClusky]

I'm posting this here as I have no desire to do an AIBU!

I have just been approached about a job that would be perfect for me, apart from the fact that it is for a tobacco company. Arguments for - I'm only doing a temporary job at the moment, and this would be permanent; it would be a promotion but close enough to what I've done before to be realistic; and it's really close to home, compared to the hour each way commute I have at the moment.

But - it's a tobacco company. I can't imagine the ultimate purpose of my job being to sell more cigarettes to people in developing countries. At the moment, my instinct is to say I'm not interested, even though the same kind of role is unlikely to crop up this close to home.

Would be interested in others' views!

Luck.

Actually, if it was a perm v temp job, and a promotion, I think I'd take it. The money and the commute wouldn't much sway me, but the career growth and the stability in a bad job market would. Then I'd leave it as soon as I could find something better.

The experience and the greater salary would look good on your CV. Most organisations are looking for people who are good at their jobs, and will do the job for the salary on offer.

And I also second what another poster said about the horrendous ethics of a wide variety of companies. Confectionary is every bit as bad as tobacco, and I have personally seen children working on cocoa plantations that sell to major brands. It's not nice.

I'd do it. My first responsibility is to my family and at the moment you can't be too choosy. As for the cv thing, I've sifted and interviewed many many people and I look at what the job is and their skills. Where they worked is very secondary to that.

We had a similar dilemma when we were offered work (market research) from a tobacco company. In a climate where our business has very nearly gone down the tubes we took the work, and have been very grateful for it. Needs must, and all that.

And, interestingly, because of the issues over tobacco marketing, they are actually one of the most transparent businesses I have worked with. They are legislated/controlled so much more strictly than other, apparently 'safe' businesses.

I'd do it too. A regular income and a secure job would be the deciding factors.

And when it comes to the effect on your CV - I know my employers would have no qualms about hiring someone who worked for tobacco/oil/arms companies. They are interested in skills, not ethical debates.

Good to hear that you've come to a conclusion, OP. Hope you'll soon find a job that enhances your career and also makes you happy!

I'd do it too.

The fact is permanent rather than temporary would make such a difference.

And the other things you have mentioned seem positive too i.e. shorter commute, more pay, promotion....

I don't think that it would be a black mark on your CV, personally.

I'd do it too. I don't boycott supermarkets because they sell tobacco and alcohol, where would I shop? Everything at some stage in production must be unethical. I bet if you'd been offered a job with Apple you'd take it, and yet I understand that the way the workers who make Apple products are treated is less than satisfactory, as the conditions for those who make the clothes we wear for many companies.

People can choose not to use tobacco; you may market it, but it doesn't mean that the product gets bought.

for a promotion, perm contract and better commute I'd take it too and then look to move on to something else as soon as I could.

I too would go with what etude said. There are a lot of industries that do harm as they make their product or their product kills people. There are firms I would not work for and things I would not do. Its a personal moral stance.

That said, I have worked in the energy industry and finance industry a long time and many find aspects of that immoral. They were in no way illegal but many people feel the energy industry destroys lives, destroys the planet and promotes corruption and despots across the planet. Yet we all still need energy. There are many who feel that the harm done to be people by debt and the financial crisis is a moral outrage. Yet we all use banks.

I absolutely would take the job. It's permanent, a promotion and a better commute? Take the job.

"for me to be motivated at work, I have to buy into what the company are doing at some level"

This is so important. You've done the right thing.

I was offered an interview at a tobacco company too. Perfect role and a v v hefty pay rise. I thought about it for about 5 minutes before deciding I couldn't do it.

For what it's worth, I'm lucky enough to work with lots of ethical companies and charities. I have worked for alcohol companies in the past but I didn't have much of an issue with that - I drink myself.

I'd take the job too. Cigarettes are a legal product, and people can choose to smoke or not smoke. OK, it can be hard to quit, but millions have! As a vegetarian, avoiding this job would be the same as boycotting supermarkets for selling meat! I should say that I'm a smoker, so it might be less of an issue for me...ironic eh?!

I would not take the job. Yes, tobacco is legal and most people in the west know how bad it is for you. But many tobacco companies are actively working to increase there markets in developing countries. Chocolate does not kill 1 in 4 of it's users.

The thread is a little old now, but thought I'd report back that I have now been offered a different permanent job in a different industry, again with a shorter commute - pay packet not quite as generous as the tobacco company, but a decent salary overall.

So overall I have no regrets! Looking forward to starting the new job!

Thanks all for the input, it was a really interesting discussion.