Resume fraud starts at the top

Citation

Mintz, J.B. (2007), "Resume fraud starts at the top", Human Resource Management International Digest, Vol. 15 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/hrmid.2007.04415aad.004

Resume fraud starts at the top

Resume fraud starts at the top

Mintz J.B. Across the Board (USA), July/August 2006, Vol. 43 No. 4, Start page: 45 (3 pages)

Purpose – To examine the phenomenon of resume fraud. Design/methodology/approach – Notes that a number of leading executives have been obliged to resign after it was discovered that they had falsified their career history. Points out that this has consequences for their employer, in terms of its reputation for honesty and integrity, its share price and also potential legal liability. Recommends that search committees validate the resume of every finalist for a senior position and advises up-and-coming executives to think carefully before including a “little white lie” that may become difficult to remove or explain at a later date. Draws attention to some common falsehoods with reference to a mocked-up career history and discusses some of the ways in which they can be uncovered. States that some people lie about their qualifications, overstate their role at previous employers and conceal periods of unemployment or omit roles that do not fit well with the job opportunity they are currently pursuing. Considers the reasons why successful individuals engage in such practices, noting that many originally added mis-statements before they became well-known and were later unable to delete them. Asks if any exaggeration on a resume should automatically disqualify the candidate, suggesting that whilst this should follow calculated efforts to deceive, simplifications that are acknowledged and accompanied with a credible explanation may be acceptable.Originality/value – Highlights the ways that resume fraud can occur and how it may be detected.Reference: 35AU240

Keywords: Curriculum vitae, Experience, Fraud, Qualifications