|
February 28, 2006
Radio Shack CEO’s Reputation and Resume of Lies
PHOTO: David Edmondson
“For the last 11 years, it has been my privilege to be associated with RadioShack. At this time the board and I have agreed that it is in the best interest of the company for new leadership to step forward so that our turnaround plan has the best possible chance to succeed, as I know it will.”
Comments from RadioShack's embattled former president and CEO, David Edmondson, regarding lies on his resume which brought him down.
Maybe you're a few credits shy of what you needed to graduate. Maybe you carried the duties of a supervisor without the title or the pay.
It may be tempting to dress things up on your resume, say you got the degree, or held a certain title, but look at what happened to the CEO of RadioShack.
An investigation by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram discovered Dave Edmondson didn't hold degrees in theology and psychology, despite what his resume and corporate biography said. This month, Edmondson resigned as CEO amid an internal investigation of his credentials.
He admitted recently that he had "clearly misstated" his academic record, claiming that he had received a bachelor-of-science degree when he had not.
You can call it exaggerating, polishing or embellishing, but human resources experts, employers and ethicists call it one simple word: lying.
Overstating your qualifications on a resume may be tempting to some, but it's become more prevalent now that companies receive hundreds of applicants for each position. Resume lies can sit undetected indefinitely, or you can get caught and potentially lose your career and your credibility.
But beware: Getting caught lying on a resume can ruin years of genuine hard work, achievement and your overall reputation, which is everything. And the chances of getting caught are greater these days, as companies take a closer look at their candidates, scrutinizing backgrounds and checking all the references.
PHOTO: The Spin Never Stops
Other big names have gotten caught in recent years:
• George O'Leary resigned as the Notre Dame football coach five days after being hired, admitting he lied about his academic and athletic background. He didn't have a master's degree and never even played football in college.
• U.S. Sen. Joe Biden, who was seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, had apparently plagiarized passages in speeches and interviews as well as inflated his academic record.
• Michael Brown, who headed the Federal Emergency Management Agency when Hurricane Katrina hit, came under heavy criticism for his performance. He was replaced after an investigation by Time magazine found discrepancies in his online legal profile and official bio.
Sadly, surveys indicate that as many as one-third of all job seekers lie on their resumes. In a poll of 150 HR executives at large companies, the executives estimated that nearly 30 percent of all job candidates lie on their resumes.
According to a San Francisco lawyer who has investigated hundreds of resumes while defending companies against former employees, people lie about 90 percent of the time.
A Society for Human Resource Management study found that only 30 percent of all people hiring verify the authenticity of references in letters provided by candidates.
Given the above statistics, it seems that buyers need to be more aware.
The most frequent resume lies, from most common to least common, are:
• Education
• Job title
• Compensation
• Reason for leaving
• Accomplishments
Even though it seems so common and perhaps acceptable these days, and the likelihood is you won't get caught, you don't need to take chances with your career. Whether you're a senator, a football coach, a stockbroker, professor or a CEO, do not lie on your resume. Your resume can be written in such a way that it remains truthful yet downplays your weaker areas and highlights your talents.
Resume fraud is not a victimless crime. If one lies on his or her resume and gets the job, then a truly qualified candidate didn't get it.
Professional managers say that a person who is known to have lied on their resume would be very hard to promote "because you could never totally trust them again".
PHOTO: RadioShack's HQ
In addition, RadioShack posted a 62% drop in fourth-quarter net income and announced a sweeping restructuring plan that could include closing up to 10% of stores in an effort to counteract its inability to tune in quickly enough to some of the technological advances in personal electronics.
A few reputation management tips from the Reputation Doctor regarding your resume:
• Learn from the mistakes of others.
The list of those caught lying on their resumes continues to grow. Decide today for yourself. Don’t ever join the list of fradulent resume writers. It is never worth it. Your integrity and character should not bend in the wind.
• Background checks are easier than ever today with technology.
The internet is an amazing resource for doing quick background checks. Computer databases, excellent software and other cutting-edge technologies also offer consulting firms specializing in background checks very powerful tools. Don’t fall victim to these tools of accountability for seeking the truth.
• Your resume is the introduction of your character to your potential employer.
What employer will hire you if you are caught and positioned as an untrustworthy interviewee? Answer that question before you attempt to stretch the truth on your resume. Hopefully you want a reputation as the most trustworthy employee at your new job. If so, you will move up the ladder quickly, but more importantly, you will live an honesty life and become a much happier human being for doing so.
Remember, do the right thing when your reputation is in crisis and seek the counsel of an experienced reputation management expert. It will be a major challenge, but ultimately the rewards of repairing your reputation will be great. Why? Because Your Reputation Is Everything! ™
About Mike Paul
Mike Paul is editor of The Reputation Doctor blog. The Reputation Doctor is a nickname given to him by various clients. Mike's blog is located at www.ReputationDoctor.com. He appears regularly on Fox News Channel, CNN, MSNBC, Court TV, ABC News, ESPN, CBS News, BBC, and others as a weekly contributor and expert in the global news regarding leaders, celebrities, corporations and other organizations with reputations in crisis. Mr. Paul is also president and senior counselor of MGP & Associates PR (www.mgppr.com), a leading strategic public relations and reputation management firm based in New York. For interview requests, speeches or business opportunities with Mr. Paul, call 212-595-8500.
Read comments
Trackback address for this post:
http://www.mikepaulblog.com/blog/htsrv/trackback.php/40
Comments:
Leave a comment:
February 20, 2006
McDonald’s Pinocchio Reputation
PHOTO: Pinocchio's Lying Ways
“We knew there were always wheat and dairy derivatives in there, but they were not the protein component,” she said. "Technically, there are no allergens in there. What this is an example of is science evolving.”
Comments from Cathy Kapica, McDonald’s director of global nutrition, regarding McDonald’s french fry crisis.
Would you like a lawsuit with those fries?
At least three people in the U.S. have filed lawsuits against McDonald's because the fast food giant's french fries contain milk and wheat ingredients, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday. The lawyer for an Illinois woman with celiac disease says his client's condition is set off by eating gluten, a protein found in wheat.
McDonald's said Feb. 13th that wheat and dairy ingredients are used to flavor its fries. Those substances can cause allergic or other medical reactions in food-sensitive consumers. Earlier this month, McDonald's also acknowledged that its fries contain a third more trans fats than it previously knew, citing results of a new testing method it began using in December.
Jack Daly, McDonald's senior vice president, said in a statement the company has not reviewed the case yet and is testing its fries for gluten through a food allergy research program at the University of Nebraska.
Debra Moffat of Lombard, Ill., is seeking unspecified damages, claiming her suffering heightened gastrointestinal symptoms after eating the fries.
Nadia Sugish of Los Angeles is also suing. She says she's a vegan and would not have eaten the fries if she had known they contained dairy products.
Mark and Theresa Chimiak of Jupiter, Fla., allege in their suit that their five-year-old daughter, Annalise, became seriously ill from eating the fries because she has an intolerance to gluten.
"If they're saying there's wheat and dairy derivatives in the oil, as far as anyone with this disease is concerned, there's actually wheat in it," said New York resident Jillian Williams, one of more than 2 million Americans with celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten.
"They should have disclosed that all along," she said. "They should never have been calling them gluten-free."
It's not the first time McDonald's forthrightness has been called into question concerning what's in its famous fries.
The company paid $10 million in 2002 to settle a lawsuit by vegetarian groups after it was disclosed that its fries were cooked in beef-flavored oil despite the company's insistence in 1990 that it was abandoning beef tallow for pure vegetable oil.
Last February, it paid $8.5 million to settle a suit by a nonprofit advocacy group accusing the company of misleading consumers by announcing plans in September 2002 to change its cooking oil but then delaying the switch indefinitely within months. Reluctant to change the taste of a top-selling item, McDonald's has continued to maintain for the past three years that testing continues.
The fast-food giant, which previously said its fries were free of gluten and milk or wheat allergens, added a ''contains wheat and milk ingredients'' postscript to its website's fries listing this month.
PHOTO: McDonald's French Fries
A few reputation management tips from the Reputation Doctor for McDonald’s:
• Lying destroys trust in a corporation locally and globally.
Stretching the truth is a lie and lying destroys trust. These are rules we teach our kids before kindergarten. Adults know better, but sometimes adults still choose deceit. In addition, adults run global corporations and many global corporations, not just McDonald’s, are in crisis.
• When a corporation is caught lying, it creates a Pinocchio complex.
Pinocchio told so many lies no one trusted him when he eventually spoke the truth. McDonald’s is in danger of the same mistake. Without trust, customers will not enter their doors. McDonald’s has a simply choice make: truth or lies? Pride and fear sometimes prevent us from doing what is right.
• Humility is needed to get back on track.
McDonald’s attorneys must work closely with their corporate communications executives and their outside crisis PR consultants. There is much more here to lose in the court of public opinion vs. potential gain in the court of law. Humility is an important tool to help fix the problem - even among the attorneys.
• Empathy for those with celiac disease is important to be included in McDonald’s message.
McDonald’s endangered the lives of those in our society with celiac disease. I have friends with the disease. It is not pretty and it requires having trust in those who claim to provide us with food without any trace of gluten or diary products. McDonald’s breached that trust. Their deceit also sends a shockwave to all McDonald’s customers. Empathy for those hurt by the crisis is necessary within the first 24 hours. To do so, McDonald’s must choose communications advice over legal advice today. Let’s see which they choose.
Remember, do the right thing when your reputation is in crisis and seek the counsel of an experienced reputation management expert. It will be difficult, but ultimately the rewards will be great. Why? Because Your Reputation Is Everything! ™
About Mike Paul
Mike Paul is editor of The Reputation Doctor blog. The Reputation Doctor is a nickname given to him by various clients. Mike's blog is located at www.ReputationDoctor.com. He appears regularly on Fox News Channel, CNN, MSNBC, Court TV, ABC News, ESPN, CBS News, BBC, and others as a weekly contributor and expert in the global news regarding leaders, celebrities, corporations and other organizations with reputations in crisis. Mr. Paul is also president and senior counselor of MGP & Associates PR (www.mgppr.com), a leading strategic public relations and reputation management firm based in New York. For interview requests, speeches or business opportunities with Mr. Paul, call 212-595-8500.
Read comments
Trackback address for this post:
http://www.mikepaulblog.com/blog/htsrv/trackback.php/39
Comments:
Leave a comment:
February 13, 2006
Gretzky: The Family Reputation - Hot Water Melts Ice
PHOTO: Wayne Gretzky at a recent press conference
"I’ve felt like the last three days I’ve defended myself over something that absolutely, unequivocally, I was not involved with."
Wayne Gretzky, reiterating that he never bet with the gambling ring allegedly financed by friend and Phoenix Coyotes assistant coach Rick Tocchet. Gretzky’s wife, Janet, allegedly made many bets in the gambling ring.
According to AP, Phoenix Coyotes coach Wayne Gretzky will subject himself this afternoon to another round of questions from reporters about an alleged illegal gambling ring that police say was financed by his assistant coach, Rick Tocchet. The gambling ring had a connection with organized crime in Philadelphia and southern New Jersey. Gretzky, considered hockey's greatest player, is in his first season coaching the Coyotes and is a part-owner of the team.
"First of all, my wife is my best friend," Gretzky said in a recent interview. "My love for her is deeper than anything. The reality is, I'm not involved, I wasn't involved and I'm not going to be involved. Am I concerned for both of them? Sure there's concern from me. I'm more worried about them than me. ... I'm trying to figure it all out."
Gretzky, also the executive director of the Canadian men's Olympic hockey team, is expected to join the team in Toronto this morning. But rather than lay low in an airport hotel, the Great One plans to attend the team's practice, making himself available to the media for the third time since the Tocchet story broke last Tuesday.
His decision was made amid reports over the weekend that he was visited at his home in Scottsdale, Arizona, before the start of the Super Bowl on Feb. 5 by two New Jersey police officers and a local law enforcement official to discuss the alleged involvement of his wife, Janet, in the alleged betting ring.
Gretzky was speechless when police informed him of the allegation, the reports say, and he told them that he had no knowledge of the alleged gambling operation in a conversation last Monday. Later that day, it is believed, he telephoned Tocchet to see whether there was any way his wife could avoid being implicated. Sources have said the Gretzky-Tocchet conversation was recorded during a New Jersey state police wiretap, the day after Gretzky’s wife allegedly won money betting on the Super Bowl, sources said.
“Published reports that Gretzky had spoken to Rick Tocchet about his concern for his wife prior to police appearing at Gretzky’s house last Monday are completely ludicrous,” said Gretzky’s attorney, Ron Fujikawa. “It’s absolutely balderdash.”
PHOTO: Operation Slapshot chart from NJ State Police sting
The wife of hockey Hall-of-Famer Wayne Gretzky said she never placed bets for her husband, while her spokesman said she may have to testify about a $1.7 million sports-gambling ring with alleged ties to organized crime.
The NHL is also taking the allegations very seriously. "We understand that Mr. Tocchet's conduct in no way involved betting on hockey," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said. "And, while betting on football or other sports may be the pervasive issue, it in no way justifies poor judgment or otherwise alleged inappropriate conduct."
Gretzky’s wife, actress and dancer Janet Jones, said in a statement that "at no time did I ever place a wager" on behalf of Gretzky, the National Hockey League's all-time scoring leader and now coach and part- owner of the Phoenix Coyotes. "Other than the occasional horse race, my husband does not bet on any sports,'' Jones said in the statement, released by Evan Jenness, her Santa Monica, California-based attorney.
The Newark Star-Ledger, citing unidentified law-enforcement officials, reported that Jones placed $500,000 in bets with the ring over the last six weeks -- including $75,000 on the Feb. 5 Super Bowl -- and that Gretzky spoke of the ring on a wiretap. There is no evidence Gretzky placed any bets, the newspaper said.
Jones' statement didn't say if she placed bets herself.
PHOTO: Gretzky and wife in Sports Illustrated photo
Janet Jones has been spending a lot of time in Los Angeles with her daughter, while her husband, Gretzky, has been spending much of his time in Arizona with his new team. As a result, his wife, Janet, had a lot more time without her husband and one of the ways she spent that time seems to be gambling.
A few reputation management tips from the Reputation Doctor for the Gretzkys:
• Hot water melts ice.
The NHL is still trying to come back from its strike crisis and now the Great One and his wife are in crisis. Bad for pro hockey, bad for the Canadian Olympic team and bad for the Gretzky family. Hot water melts ice and these hockey crises are causing reputation problems for everyone in the sport.
• Gambling is highly addictive.
Janet needs help to kick her habit. The needs to find the best gambling anonymous program in the country. It is a disease and she is definitely addicted. She likes the gambling rush and she needs help to kick it and she needs help now. She will need the consistent support of her husband, family and friends.
• We all need accountability.
Janet Jones is not exempt from accountability and transparency. In fact, because of her famous husband, the public demands the truth and it will come out sooner rather than later. The only way to repair the family name is with honesty, transparency, accountability and consistency in changed behavior and then with humble communication.
• The court of public opinion is much more important than the court of law in this situation.
If your attorney leads in the court of public opinion, you will lose in the end. Attorneys are not trained to handle the media onslaught in a situation like this. Hire a seasoned crisis PR pro with a lot of experience dealing with public crises. If your attorney helps prevent you from going to jail or paying a price for your misdeeds, but your reputation is still in the gutter, you're still in crisis. Think O.J. Simpson. Your reputation is everything!
• Sins of the wife will damage a public husband’s reputation and all audiences associated with them.
The Gretzkys need to understand any misdeeds within their family are open to public scrutiny. I always tell my clients when you first sign a contract in sports, entertainment, as a top executive in corporate America, elected to public office or a leading post with a top nonprofit, your personal life is now public and that includes your entire family.
Remember, do the right thing when your reputation is in crisis and seek the counsel of an experienced reputation management expert. It will be difficult, but ultimately the rewards will be great. Why? Because Your Reputation Is Everything! ™
About Mike Paul
Mike Paul is editor of The Reputation Doctor blog. The Reputation Doctor is a nickname given to him by various clients. Mike's blog is located at www.ReputationDoctor.com. He appears regularly on Fox News Channel, CNN, MSNBC, Court TV, ABC News, ESPN, CBS News, BBC, and others as a weekly contributor and expert in the global news regarding leaders, celebrities, corporations and other organizations with reputations in crisis. Mr. Paul is also president and senior counselor of MGP & Associates PR (www.mgppr.com), a leading strategic public relations and reputation management firm based in New York. For interview requests, speeches or business opportunities with Mr. Paul, call 212-595-8500.
Read comment
Trackback address for this post:
http://www.mikepaulblog.com/blog/htsrv/trackback.php/38
Comments:
Leave a comment:
February 6, 2006
Sticks and Stones
As children, we probably all sang the face-saving ditty:
"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me."
In our innocence, we didn't know how false that chant was. Bottom line: Names do hurt!
The power of words becomes clear after listening to a powerful speech that leaves you feeling motivated, or when a moving passage from a novel brings tears to your eyes.
But when it comes to causing pain, the power of words may still be vastly underestimated.
"Hurtful words can haunt you all your life and may lead to heart disease, depression, suicide or stress," said W. Penn Handwerker, a medical anthropologist. Not surprisingly, those that have the most impact are words that come from people we admire or who have some power over our lives: teachers, spouses, parents and peers.
And while a bruise will eventually disappear, "words can hurt your soul," said Stephen Wessler, director of the Center for the Study and Prevention of Hate Violence at the University of Southern Maine.
Studies have found that when it comes to bullying, verbal assaults are even more painful than physical ones. "Words create fear and can be construed to contain the promise of future violence. The emotional impact on victims can range from low-level anxiety to paralyzing fear," Wessler said.
It is estimated that 160,000 students miss school everyday because they're afraid of being harassed. What's more, name-calling and other forms of abuse are precursors to actual violence in schools. Wessler, who worked as a prosecutor for the Maine attorney general's office, explained that when he was called into schools for cases of violence, it was typically the last stage of a much longer battle.
"The violence had actually begun days or months before with verbal harassment," he said.
Kids are not the only ones wounded by harsh words. In relationships, on the job and in day-to-day life, adults are also bombarded with, and affected by, hurtful words. Spouses who are confronted with regular verbal abuse develop feelings of self-doubt, low self-worth, hopelessness and depression. They may become withdrawn and angry and start to suffer physical effects as well.
Likewise, people stuck in emotionally hazardous work environments, in which their bosses or coworkers use name-calling, belittling words, negative gossip, threats or ultimatums, are more likely to:
• Be absent from work
• Lack focus and concentration
• Use insurance for medical conditions (many of which are brought on by the stress)
• Intentionally or unintentionally sabotage the workplace due to their unhappiness
A few reputation management tips from the Reputation Doctor regarding name-calling:
• You must defend your good name to maintain an excellent reputation.
Some people believe just knowing the truth yourself is enough. This is not true. All reputations, including your own, must be defended when under attack.
• You must hold the name caller accountable to end the cycle.
Accountability is very important. When held accountable, bullying and name-calling usually stops.
• Seek counseling because hurtful words enter the brain and (with repetition) cause severe damage.
The damage is emotional and reputational.
• Teach your children and all around you (young and old) regarding the dangers of name-calling.
We can help stop the cycle of name-calling and bullying. We have all probably experience at least one episode of name-calling in our lifetime. Educating others is an excellent way to prevent the cycle from continuing. Share this news with someone today.
Remember, do the right thing when your reputation is in crisis. It will be difficult, but the ultimate rewards will be great. Why? Because Your Reputation Is Everything! ™
About Mike Paul
Mike Paul is editor of The Reputation Doctor blog. The Reputation Doctor is a nickname given to him by various clients. Mike's blog is located at www.ReputationDoctor.com. He appears regularly on Fox News Channel, CNN, MSNBC, Court TV, ABC News, ESPN, CBS News, BBC, and others as a weekly contributor and expert in the global news regarding leaders, celebrities, corporations and other organizations with reputations in crisis. Mr. Paul is also president and senior counselor of MGP & Associates PR (www.mgppr.com), a leading strategic public relations and reputation management firm based in New York. For interview requests, speeches or business opportunities with Mr. Paul, call 212-595-8500.
Leave a comment
Trackback address for this post:
http://www.mikepaulblog.com/blog/htsrv/trackback.php/37
Comments:
Leave a comment:
Copyright © 2005 – 2009 MGP & Associates, Inc. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
