Padding Resumes with Erroneous Information Can Result in Disaster

Featured Article and Resume Writer: Kathy Sweeney, NCRW, CPRW

Jobseeker dishonesty could have serious repercussions, including termination. With the hurricane disaster in New Orleans, there were many people who came under scrutiny. One such person was Michael Brown, the head of FEMA. People questioned his credentials and the media began to dig deep into his background. In a recent Time Magazine article, here were some of the details that investigative journalists uncovered:

• He claimed to be on the Board of Directors of a Nursing Home. When contacted by the media, the personnel at the nursing home had never heard of Brown.
• He claimed to have been an Assistant City Manager of Edmond, Oklahoma. Brown never held this position. He did do an internship while attending college for this town.
• He stated that he had received an "Outstanding Professor" award from a college where he never taught. He was an adjunct professor for a college, but the college never had such an award and he certainly did not receive one.

A survey I recently read showed that about 53% of people "pad" their resume with credentials and position responsibilities they have never held. Many individuals stated that they enhanced their qualifications to be competitive. [read more...]

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