To work for a company my beliefs don't align with?

[bottolololcks]

Name changed

I came across an opportunity to apply to work part-time, in the evenings, after my day job and from home. Job will be easy for me but also I will learn new valuable skills (customer service responding to queries via email and on their own platform).

The company sell courses, workshops etc - I was a client for a number of years and used / paid for a lot of the products (spiritual / new wave stuff and meditation). I stopped because my beliefs changed completely and I no longer subscribed to what they teach. I checked their instagram and they are following a lot of people I no longer follow or give any credit to. They don't teach anything bad or or damaging. It benefited me int he past but I just outgrew their teachings and the whole thing, as a student, is no longer attractive to me.

But now that I could work for them, I feel excited to apply. I know I will not be expected to be student again (they know I left and still encouraged me to apply) and I know I can be impartial. But would I be a hypocrite?

Wow if you’re waiting for an employer whose values match your own you may be waiting a long time. Work is there to get you money. As ling as it’s legal and not wildly unethical, go for it.

Go for it!

we are all hypocrites at work

Each to their own.

Personally, I want to work somewhere where I make a difference to people. But others don't.

Only you can make that choice.

And as you said, it doesn't cause harm to people. And it brings you money and skills.

I worked somewhere i was serving £3000 bottles of wine whilst helping in need families on the side. I felt like a right cunt but I needed the money for my family!
eventually a full time role came available in what I do believe in and helping people in the community.
it wasnt fun but I don’t regret it, it was a means to an end!

It’s easy to be naive & idealistic when you’re young and have no responsibilities. Then you grow up, have a family, get a mortgage and realise that in adult life principles are for those who can afford them. Take the job.

I work for a religious (Christian) organisation as an atheist. No problems at all- in fact I like the culture that belief brings- it's more about behaving in the right way than a full on preaching or hell and damnation firm! You don't have to agree with everything, just make sure you and they can respect your differences and rub along happily.

Well it's hardly Lockheed Martin, so I'd go for it myself.

I don’t align with my companies values but it’s never that deep for me, so long as I’m paid each month I could care less.

Is it scamming people? Then no.

Is it selling stuff that people find helpful but you don’t? Crack on. If you get bored after a few years you can move on.

In the past said it was helpful......therefore it will be helpful to someone else now.

I don't think that's true at all. I very much keep to my values in who I work for.

I'm very principled and would not work for a company whose values I disagreed with.

Sounds like there's no problem with you working for them to me.

I turned down a very well paid job offer to work for a large bookmaker's a few years ago. I just couldn't bring myself to be encouraging gambling, after having seen the harm it can do.

I think there's a huge difference between working for a company where you actively disagree with their morals/service offering eg scamming, gambling, weapons. And working for a company where you aren't aligned/interested in their services, but don't see them as harmful.

If it's number 1 I'd steer clear (if you can) and if its number 2 then crack on!

I am not sure I can sell woo, so I'd find it difficult to work in the company because my enthusiasm would be so fake.

That said, it is not in the same league as tobacco, biological/chemical/nuclear weapons, loan sharks, MLM, porn or Russian, so it's just me.

I agree with their morals and their values, it is all very positive and noble.

I just don't share the same beliefs anymore (angels, chakras to name a few) at least not exactly the way they teach...but I don't think that as a customer service I will be responding to enquiries regarding what they teach - it will be technical stuff about payments, dates, how to this, that or the other. When I used to participate in their courses I had all kinds questions and the technical ones was dealt with by the customer service lady and the ones regarding the teachings were forwarded to the teachers. I guess that is what I will do.

That is my thinking but I will not do marketing, only customer service as far as I know. Guess I will need to ask during the interview if I apply.

Im a mental health practitioner OP and one thing we know is that happiness is very closely linked to working for an organisation that aligns with your own values.

I don't know if that helps!

Im a mental health practitioner OP and one thing we know is that happiness is very closely linked to working for an organisation that aligns with your own values.

I don't know if that helps!

Sounds fine to me. Go for it.

Sounds like that dodgy Nexium place in America. It is a company or a cult? You make it sound more than a bit dodgy.

definitely not a cult - I was in a cult nearly 20 years before finding this company - I can tell a cult when I see one