Mark Radcliffe wonders to what degree a resume matters when it comes to a person being able to properly perform a job.
When I read about the resume scandal surrounding Yahoo CEO Scott Thompson (who added an extra degree he never truly earned to his resume—a 2nd degree in computer science, to go along with his accounting degree) who might very well lose his job over it, my first thought was this:
- Why does Yahoo even care what degree he might have gotten 20 yrs ago. Isn’t it much more important that he led a multi billion-dollar tech company as president of PayPal? Isn’t that what they’re really hiring him for? (And frankly, doesn’t that and his 20 years of tech experience more than prove he’s got a pretty good grasp of the computer science field?)
But since I can understand the belief that a CEO should be a trustworthy figure who believes in transparency and honesty, I support the scrutiny. So then I had another thought:
- If he has established such an accomplished and credible track record, why does he feel the need to pad his resume with a measly extra 2nd degree? What exactly is he compensating for at that point?
It begs the question: when does a man no longer feel the need to prove himself?
What drives a man to misrepresent his achievements in this context, when the incremental gain in credibility seems to pale in comparison to the potential loss of credibility he could face (and now has) if the lie comes to light? Sure, we all want to put our best face forward, but how does a man keep his ambition from compromising his honor and integrity?
And how much responsibility did the company have in thoroughly vetting him before hiring him?
About Mark Radcliffe
As someone who went to one of the very best high schools in the nation and has competed at the absolute highest levels of academic competitiveness, I can say without any hesitation that lying is the right thing to do. My advice to any student today looking to get into college — and this carries forward into resumes as well — is to lie, lie, and lie. Why? Because the vast majority of people do it, and you put yourself at a massive disadvantage by being honest. Most of the time, things that you claim are not thoroughly vetted and when everyone else is padding the bejeezus out of their resume/application, you either do it to or you suffer for telling the truth. It is a shame that this is the way things work, but you can’t change the world on your own.
I still regret not lying on my college applications. I’ve given this advice to numerous kids during their college application process, and they’ve all thanked me afterwards for telling them how it is. Better to pad your application and have your diploma say Harvard than be honest and have your diploma say SUNY.
I understand how some who operate at certain levels would feel the pressure to lie but then again, there’ are degree-less Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Mark Zuckerberg.
I work in a very high tech industry, with really smart people, because they have to be smart to exist – and it is assumed that most people have degrees, because most do. However, at the pace of technology, what you learned 10 or more years ago is foundational information at best. Unless you relentlessly keep up, your college education qualifies you as a dinoasaur.
Mark:
I am totally with you. I saw this story when it first came out (a close friend is a very senior advisor to Yahoo so I enjoy giving him shit) and I frankly couldn’t believe the hoopla over a guy who mischaracterized his major. Really? Then it kept going and going and made it to the front page of the WSJ and NYT business section. I honestly think that Yahoo has way more important issues to deal with right about now.
It is important to note that the guy causing all this trouble is a hedge fund manager who has a big stake in Yahoo and is out to cause trouble because he wants to force a sale. So his goal isn’t so much to take down the CEO but take down the whole company. But how everyone has decided to take him so seriously is beyond me.
Ah, interesting to know. Yeah, I would have understood this being an issue if this was someone being hired as an intern, or first year employee, since then, this exaggeration would be constitute a massive portion of his achievements. But at this point in his career, what he did in college is almost irrelevant. Hell, Gates & Zuckerberg didn’t even graduate, and the industry forgave that just fine. But the curious thing to me is why he felt the need to lie about THAT. With all those other achievements, why lie there? It’s like becoming President, and then telling America, “I was also Captain of the Chess Club” when you weren’t. It’s conspicuous just by mention…
Oh please, Yahoo should have recognized Scott Thompson from his fabulous work in the Kids in The Hall
I believe it has to do with character. I struggle with anyone that misrepresents himself. I also agree with who ever said that people should be confident enough with themselves based on their track record/accomplishments. A company that “requires” an alphabet after their name is more then likely missing out on a lot of quality employees that are probably more qualified and able to perform
‘What Does Lying on a Resume Say About a Man”
A better question is: What does lying say about a man?
“Because the vast majority of people do it, and you put yourself at a massive disadvantage by being honest. ”
Yea, I know I’m at an extreme disadvantage. But I feel better knowing that my word is bond.
I just found out today that my ex lied about going to the same grad school long ago….he said he attended when the school first opened and then dropped out after one year….idiot that I was then (over 2 decades ago), I had believed him…
Since I dumped him over 2 decades ago, I have found out that he had told other heinous lies….truly he was a psychopath and manipulative and abusive….each individual lie is not really important….it’s the intention to manipulate behind each one…
It’s weird finding out something you assumed to be true all these years is really false….all it took was one simple e-mail….anyway, he tried to contact me 3 years ago and I have refused to reciprocate…..I am stunned to find out how dangerous and conniving he is….as if he would make up anything just to have a chance to get my attention…..I wish I had just asked someone in the registrar’s office back then instead of perpetuating this illusion he created….how gullible he must have thought I was!
Integrity is a big part of manhood and something each generation has to learn.