Job search ethicsFrom full disclosure to deceit

Created by Brett Oppegaardfor Washington State University's

DTC 338 Information Ethics class, fall 2008

Forbes' list of top resume lies

Earned a college degree Boost of GPA

Embellishment of accomplishments / experience Exaggeration of numbers (sales, number of subordinates,

etc.) Obscuring dates (hiding age, employment gaps, etc.)

Altering job titles (to seem more important) Claiming skills that don't exist (language, software fluency,

etc.) Salary history hike

Using a false address (to appear local)

Remember these names?

• Marilee Jones, admissions dean at M.I.T. and author of a popular college admissions guide

• Claimed to be: A scientist with degrees in biology, including a doctorate.

• Her response after resigning in 2007: "I misrepresented my academic degrees when I first applied to MIT 28 years ago and did not have the courage to correct my resume when I applied for my current job or at any time since."

Courtesy of Boston.com

Remember these names?

• George O'Leary, hired to be the football coach at Notre Dame

• Claimed to be: A letter-winning football player and master's degree recipient from New York University.

• His response after resigning in 2001: "In seeking employment I prepared a resume that contained inaccuracies regarding my completion of course work for a master's degree and also my level of participation in football at my alma mater. These misstatements were never stricken from my resume or biographical sketch in later years."

Courtesy of cbc.ca

Remember these names?

• Joseph A. Cafasso, Fox News Channel consultant

• Claimed to be: A Silver Star winner, for bravery, a Vietnam vet and an operative in secret government missions. In reality, according to the New York Times, he had spent 44 days in boot camp in the mid-1970s.

• His response after resigning in 2002: He was the victim of a "gossip campaign" by "self-centered individuals with their own political agendas."Courtesy of kathryncramer.com

Remember these names?

• Jeff Papows, C.E.O of Lotus Corp.

• Claimed to be: A captain in the military (he was a lieutenant), a Ph.D (he wasn't) and an orphan (his parents were found alive ... and surprised, too).

• His response after resigning in 2000: He stated that a "ridiculous" amount of interest had been paid to "my relationship with my parents and the veracity of my hobbies," after The Wall Street Journal revealed the lies on his resume. But, that, "it has absolutely nothing to do with my decision to leave [Lotus]."

Courtesy of computerworld.com

Remember these names?• Donnie Marbut,

baseball coach at Washington State University

• Claimed to be: A credentialed teacher with a master's degree. He doesn't have either certificate. Also, in his bio, said that he was MVP and most inspirational player at PSU as well as an all Pac-10 North division selection, none of which is true.

• His response in 2006: From The Seattle Times: "I never was one to read a bio. ... I never thought I was important. Now any time anybody quotes me or says anything about me or writes anything about me, I'll do a better job of watching it.""A couple of these things are errors in judgment by a person who has a lot of potential but who was young and ambitious and didn't really think things through," said Marcia Saneholtz, WSU's senior associate athletic director. "He will continue to be our baseball coach."

Courtesy of wsucougarscstv.com

Mock interview questions Why aren't you content with your current job?

When was the last time you were disappointed with your work performance? And why did that happen?

What was the last conflict you had in the workplace? How did you handle it?

Who was the worst boss you ever had, and why? What is your biggest weakness?

When in the past have you felt like your company has let you down? How did you handle that?