Yahoo CEO Scott Thompson resigned this weekend over allegations of lying on his résumé. The entire Thompson hullabaloo has raised debate over whether the controversy counts as an inadvertent “error” or a consequential “lie.” The fallout from Thompson’s debacle can pass along some value lessons to jobseekers. Chief among them is…how much can you “dress up” your resume to make yourself as strong a candidate as possible without crossing the ethical line of deception? Where is the line?
In a Wall Street Journal article, “Economy Promises to Fuel Resume Fraud (Nov. 17, 2008)”, it was stated that, “little white lies” on resumes are on the increase as the job market worsens. People who have been looking for employment do anything they an to secure a position. Your resume should not contain inaccuracies or exaggerations of your education, knowledge, or work experience. The key is to list your career background facts in such a way that the employer views them as benefits. Help employers see not only what you were responsible for but how well you did it, why it mattered, and how you can make that success happen for them. In today’s competitive job market, having a focus standout resume is important, but more important is ensuring that you have the skills to back it “ALL” up. Ethically marketing yourself and keeping current with industry trends in your area of expertise will put you ahead of the pack… not back on the unemployment line.
