What do you do when you catch someone lying?
July 28, 2011 4:50 PM Subscribe
Why am I so bothered with resume-padding?
A classmate added me to his LinkedIn network. He writes there that he taught at our faculty for a year. Here's the thing. I also taught at that school and I don't remember him teaching as well. Sure, we were classmates, but he wasn't even invited to teach (he was caught cheating in our 3rd year).
I assume I know why he resume-padded (to get a job, right?) but what is the right thing to do in my situation? Normally I do nothing, as (1) it's none of my business and (2) it's not my nature to start drama. But a part of me thinks OMG lying. Why am I so bothered by this?
A classmate added me to his LinkedIn network. He writes there that he taught at our faculty for a year. Here's the thing. I also taught at that school and I don't remember him teaching as well. Sure, we were classmates, but he wasn't even invited to teach (he was caught cheating in our 3rd year).
I assume I know why he resume-padded (to get a job, right?) but what is the right thing to do in my situation? Normally I do nothing, as (1) it's none of my business and (2) it's not my nature to start drama. But a part of me thinks OMG lying. Why am I so bothered by this?
It's understandable that you are annoyed. He's competition, at least in a limited sense, for academic jobs, if that's what you're doing now, and his claim cheapens (somewhat) your actual achievement in teaching at the school.
What to do? Anyone who hires him based on claims he makes on linkedin is an idiot. If someone asks you about his career, tell them the truth. I don't think doing anything else makes sense.
posted by randomkeystrike at 5:00 PM on July 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
What to do? Anyone who hires him based on claims he makes on linkedin is an idiot. If someone asks you about his career, tell them the truth. I don't think doing anything else makes sense.
posted by randomkeystrike at 5:00 PM on July 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
*identity AS, dammit
posted by deludingmyself at 5:00 PM on July 28, 2011
posted by deludingmyself at 5:00 PM on July 28, 2011
You're bothered by this because he is (or could be) getting ahead in his career because someone believes him. Because of that, you (and others who have not padded their resume to make themselves look better) might get passed up for jobs in favor of this schmo who may not deserve it. This is a totally normal feeling.
I had a similar bile-raising experience back in college: a guy I knew was sitting in the row in front of me before class one day, having a friend of his proofread an application for a prestigious internship. At the top of his extracurriculars list was that he was an active participant in the Red Cross Club, of which I was the VP. I had devoted many hours every week to the Red Cross Club the entire time I was a student. I was on the board of directors and attended/oversaw every single event the club put on. I knew for a goddamned fact he had never been to so much as a single meeting. But his email was on the listserv! And I guess that's good enough. Grrr...
I don't think there's anything you can do, except be pissed at how unfair life is.
posted by phunniemee at 5:01 PM on July 28, 2011
I had a similar bile-raising experience back in college: a guy I knew was sitting in the row in front of me before class one day, having a friend of his proofread an application for a prestigious internship. At the top of his extracurriculars list was that he was an active participant in the Red Cross Club, of which I was the VP. I had devoted many hours every week to the Red Cross Club the entire time I was a student. I was on the board of directors and attended/oversaw every single event the club put on. I knew for a goddamned fact he had never been to so much as a single meeting. But his email was on the listserv! And I guess that's good enough. Grrr...
I don't think there's anything you can do, except be pissed at how unfair life is.
posted by phunniemee at 5:01 PM on July 28, 2011
I was once asked to be a reference for someone I worked with, and after I reviewed his resume, I said point-blank "I am not comfortable being a reference for someone who is lying on their resume, and if I find out that you are using me as a reference, I will make a significant effort to make sure anyone who contacts me finds out that you're lying on your resume." It was an issue of protecting my own credibility.
So, were I you, I would refuse the connection (if LinkedIn allows you to do such a thing) and if he asked me why, I would be brief and factual, and make it clear that I was not willing to potentially sacrifice my own credibility by linking to someone who was lying on their profile.
Incidentally, you went to the same school and he's claiming to have done something you've done there. What if you're up for the same position, and he gets the job in part because he lied about sharing that experience you actually had and deserved? Beyond your own credibility, it's reasonable for you to be annoyed by that possibility. I'd wager that's why you're bothered. I would be, too.
posted by davejay at 5:01 PM on July 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
So, were I you, I would refuse the connection (if LinkedIn allows you to do such a thing) and if he asked me why, I would be brief and factual, and make it clear that I was not willing to potentially sacrifice my own credibility by linking to someone who was lying on their profile.
Incidentally, you went to the same school and he's claiming to have done something you've done there. What if you're up for the same position, and he gets the job in part because he lied about sharing that experience you actually had and deserved? Beyond your own credibility, it's reasonable for you to be annoyed by that possibility. I'd wager that's why you're bothered. I would be, too.
posted by davejay at 5:01 PM on July 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
Because you have honour and integrity, and when someone lies to your face, it offends you.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 5:30 PM on July 28, 2011
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 5:30 PM on July 28, 2011
I wouldn't worry about it too much. I have a feeling the web being woven will come back to pay him a visit. Many companies have policies where if there are fabrications found on CV after hire, the employee can have disciplinary action taken against them (including dismissal). I have seen cases where well settled senior employees are given the boot due to fabrications at the time of hire. The interesting part is that the resume in question could easily be 5-10 years old.
You are likely bothered because of his skipping of the whole effort/work step while still attempting to achieve recognition. Many would feel the same way as well.
posted by Lugos at 6:39 PM on July 28, 2011
You are likely bothered because of his skipping of the whole effort/work step while still attempting to achieve recognition. Many would feel the same way as well.
posted by Lugos at 6:39 PM on July 28, 2011
Karma, karma, karma. It will confront him when he least suspects it. And! Anybody checking references will find it hard to find a person from your faculty ie a Dean or Associate Dean or Department Head (etc) who will provide a reference for him if he never actually taught there! You should sit back, thank the universe that you are a) accomplished and b) not insecure (like he seems to be), and do nothing. Except maybe have a quiet drink with someone you like. And be thankful that you are you.
posted by lulu68 at 7:11 PM on July 28, 2011
posted by lulu68 at 7:11 PM on July 28, 2011
I will never understand why co-workers who falsify information on their resume will go ahead and connect to me on LinkedIn, but it happens not-infrequently. I totally think less of them. I won't seek out ways to screw with them, but if I'm asked about my former colleague, it's gonna color my stated opinion.
Yeah, my title wasn't fair either, but I didn't fucking make something up, I used my real title and then demonstrated my qualifications.
posted by desuetude at 11:29 PM on July 28, 2011
Yeah, my title wasn't fair either, but I didn't fucking make something up, I used my real title and then demonstrated my qualifications.
posted by desuetude at 11:29 PM on July 28, 2011
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posted by deludingmyself at 5:00 PM on July 28, 2011