This week’s InfoWorld magazine has an interesting article entitled Smart People With 'Dumb' Resumes written by Carlton Vogt, author of the weekly opinion column Ethic Matters. The article poses several questions concerning the ethics of "dumbing down" (as opposed to “puffing up”) resumes. In other words, is purposely leaving out information (such as work experience) an acceptable job-seeking tactic? Is it just as dishonest as claiming to be something you are not? Although Vogt makes no mention of this, the article led me to question whether it would be ethical to leave out a degree from a resume. What are the implications of leaving out an unaccredited degree? Does an employer have the right to know this information before making a hiring decision?
If someone believes they made an honest mistake (or simply "saw the light") in getting an unaccredited degree and has mailed back the diploma and purged all references to it (as more than one member here has done), I have no problem with omitting it from a resume. What I do have a problem with is someone who uses an unaccredited degree in their professional life, but selectively leaves it out when it would be advantageous to do so. Bruce
A resume is necessarily a selective summary of one's accomplishments and credentials. I have a "full CV" that's currently 14 pages long (including 7 pages of publications, presentations, etc.). When I need to send out a resume or CV, I don't send the full 14 pages -- I extract a relevant subset of the content. The subset depends on the situation -- if I'm applying for an adjunct teaching position, I include academic and training experience, but de-emphasize management experience (assuming I'm proposing to teach an engineering course), etc. I think it's OK to omit anything one wants, provided one doesn't fudge the information included (e.g. to adjust dates to mask a gap).
Although I'm in no danger of having a 14-page CV anytime soon, there are some things I definitely omit from mine, largely on the "Who cares?" or "Who should care?" principle; my birthdate (for obvious reasons), the dinky poetry awards I won when I was 15, that sort of thing. Cheers,
over credentialed & under paid If the choice is not putting things in your resume vs. putting things in that are false, I'd go with avoidance every time. I tend to include only relevant things on the resume. But if a company has a form to fill out asking for everything, I answer accurately. Since I graduated from High school I have added a credential about every 3-4 years. When I apply for a job as a principal or teacher, it doesn't make sense to list my certificate in gerontology on my resume. All the best! Cert. of Gerontological Studies----Cert. Rehabilitation Counselor BS Human Development---------Licensed Alcohol & Drug Counselor M. Extension Ed.--------------- Licensed Mental Health Counselor M. Arts in Counseling----------Licensed Guidance Counselor Cert. of Adv. Study, Spec. Ed---Licensed Special Needs Teacher VT Cert. Public Manager------Licensed Principal
Selective resume submission Many of my pastoral colleagues maintain distinct resumes, i.e. a secular vs. religious resume. Doing so has helped in periods between pastoral roles, let's say when simply putting beans on the table is the primary goal of employment. In those instances, I have found that many would-be employers tend to disfavor the fact that "pastor so-and-so" was the executive pastor guy of the First Church of Frigidaire. To obmit religious credentials in those times has been advantageous. Kindly, Steven King
I was just editing my main resume (all 12 pages) into a four page CV to apply to teach at some local programs. And even this is probably too long (4 page CV). Even the 12 pager is somewhat edited as I leave off my military training (Eng Officer Basic & Advanced Courses) and my jobs during college and the first job I had after graduation while I was waiting to go on acitve duty (four months doing stack sampling at a phasphate chemical plant), as they have nothing to do with anything I do now. If anyone asks I will tell them, as I am not ashamed, but work 30 years ago for 4 months, in a field I never worked at since, seems outr of place today. So yes I do leave some things out, but only to try and mange the bulk.
