Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Publicity Opportunity: Lying on Resumes

Another celebrity has been caught using an embellished resume -- and this is a publicity opportunity for you!

Customize the following news release and fax or e-mail it to your local television news stations, radio stations, and newspapers. (Click on the highlighted text to download the Word document, or copy-and-paste: http://www.rwdigest.com/LyingonResume.doc)

JOB SEEKERS: LYING ON A RESUME WILL GET YOU IN HOT WATER

Job searchers can learn from the misfortunes of Robert Irvine, a British-born chef and presenter of Dinner: Impossible on the Food Network. Claiming credentials you don't have is a recipe for disaster, says [YOUR NAME], a professional resume writer.

"Job seekers are most likely to lie about things like their education or number of years they worked for a company -- and these are the easiest things to check," says [YOUR LAST NAME]. "If you're not caught when the company checks your references, you will likely get tripped up somewhere along the line. And many companies have a policy to fire employees caught lying on their applications -- even if that's several years later."

Lying on resumes is on the rise. An online survey conducted for the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) found that more than 60% of the 373 human resources professionals who responded reported finding inaccuracies on the resumes they review. Inaccuracies aren't necessarily lies, but anything that brings the job seeker's character into question is likely to end his or her chances for getting the job.

Irvine admitted that he lied about being a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order and exaggerated his role as a traveling chef for numerous heads of state.

"If the issue is the job searcher's insecurity about his or her qualifications for the position, there are ways to address the issue without lying," says [YOUR LAST NAME]. "It's just not worth the risk when there are perfectly legitimate ways to position your credentials -- for example, your lack of a degree -- and still win the interview."

- END -

[YOUR BIO HERE: For example: Bridget Brooks, CPRW, is a Certified Professional Resume Writer with Image Building Communications in Omaha, Neb. She has been writing resumes since 1996 and is a member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches as well as Career Directors International. She is available for interviews on the topic of "lying on resumes" and how job seekers can legitimately overcome potential shortcomings in their work history and education. Call (402) 393-4600 or e-mail omahajobhelp@yahoo.com.]

Note to resume writers: If you use this news release, be sure to customize it. And be sure to include a phone number where you can be easily reached -- and monitor your calls. The biggest response to a story like this will come in the next 72 hours.

Other resources:
The Lying Game
Lying on Resumes
SHRM Survey: Resume Inaccuracies

Monday, March 3, 2008

Looking for Subcontract Writers?

I am working on updating the compiled list of subcontract opportunities in the "Making Money as a Resume Subcontractor" special report. If you are an individual or firm that hires subcontract writers and want your listing included in the report, please e-mail me (rwdigest@aol.com).

Also -- a reminder that my Subcontractor Survey is still open. If you are a resume writer who subcontract writes, please take the survey! (Because this blog is accessible to the public, you need to e-mail me to get the link to the survey -- I won't be posting it directly on here.)

Sunday, March 2, 2008

Another Fake Career Association?

I came across another organization that I can't find publicly:



Note, this is *not* to be confused with CertifiedResumeWriters.com, which is a legitimate website for careers professionals.:

Saturday, March 1, 2008

Fake Career Associations

Well, I'm updating the Resume Writers' Digest database again, and my search for some of the careers professionals that have moved or left the business continues.

Along the way, I have come across some interesting things -- like a couple of associations for resume writers and career professionals which -- according to my research -- simply don't exist. Yet they issue membership certificates and apparently award a "Certified Professional Resume Writer" credential.



A search for "National Association of Career Professionals" on Google came up empty.



Likewise, a search for the "International Association of Professional Resume Writers" turned up no matches.

There are plenty of legitimate professional associations serving the careers industry out there, like:
You'll find all of those associations using Google.