White Lies On The Resume

You're probably thinking, is she really writing about Rep George Santos (R-NY)? I mention Santos because I have a hard time believing that no one bothered to check or double check his educational credentials. And even after an admission of guilt, he still holds public office. Why wasn't he terminated for lying about his resume & background? If he was in Corporate America and admitted he was untruthful, he would've been cut ... no questions asked!

Let me give you an another example. In the mid-2000's, I was working for the 13th largest defense contractor and I was recruiting for a Sr. Program Manager. It was a hard role to fill due to the undesirable location and the steep engineering requirements. By the grace of God, I found the perfect candidate. This person had their BSEE, PMP certification, 25+ years of experience and had led large teams of people. Not to mention, the candidate was very personable and everyone loved him! But after weeks of courting, giving into every need & want, we learned that he didn't actually have his BSEE. He was 1 class short of obtaining his degree. When I rescinded the offer (with the help of legal), he apologized for his so-called embarrassing behavior. I remember hanging up the phone and thinking, he's just embarrassed because he got caught.

First & foremost, most people at some point in their lives have told a white lie. Not remembering the month & year of your graduation is one thing. Saying you worked at General Electric for 20 years when you were there for only 12 years is something else, totally! Like the above example, I've met folks who were 1-2 credits shy of obtaining their degrees and instead of saying incomplete, they tell a white lie & say they graduated. Eventually, their plan foils and then they have to be terminated. Don't lie ... even if the lie is small because you always get caught. Don't lie about what's in your background because if you don't have the skill or the knowledge or the technology, you'll eventually be found out. Don't lie. Period.

So, with background checks & verifications getting waived due to ASAP hiring, we can't just take people for their words. As TA & HR folks, we have to do our due diligence even if it means losing a great candidate. But let's focus on the positive. There are lots of great people who are open, honest & truthful who want to get back to work. And, those are the folks I want to work with on a daily, monthly & yearly basis.

Happy job hunting!