Mike Paul's Blog - Radio Shack CEO’s Reputation and Resume of Lies

“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.

• 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.

• 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".

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! ™

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.

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Comment from: Smith [Visitor]

There are some CEOs successively major companies in their 40s and 70s, and those interviewed say that period has little to do with achievement and headship. What subjects distant more, says 49-year-old Rich Templeton, who became CEO of Texas Instruments at 45, is whether executives see the heart of their career and activities ahead of them or following. RadioShack Corp. was to open a smooth rotunda-shaped flagship stock up Friday that will feature an interactive acting, games, and the newest in electronic tools and toys. 650-180 exam , EX0-101 exam , 640-460 exam

Aug 4, 2009, 5:41 am

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