Recession Resumes: How Low Can You Go?
The recession continues to lower expectations and raise questions, including this one: Is it acceptable to doctor your resume in order to get a job?
Resume inflation—with its over-written under-achievements—has long set the workplace standard for autobiographical unacceptability.
But is resume deflation just as irresponsible?
Employment agencies and job recruiters are reacting to the growing numbers of unemployed workers they see dumbing down their experience and credentials in an effort to land a job for which they are over-qualified. Their deflationary techniques include “hiding advanced degrees, changing too-lofty titles, shortening work experience descriptions, and removing awards and accolades” from their resumes.
The new bio-degradable biography isn’t sitting well with some employers. “I’d never feel comfortable putting a really high-level candidate into a lower level position,” says an employment agency recruiter who now sees doctoral degrees listed at the bottom of resumes instead of at the traditional top. “How do I know I can trust them later down the road,” she asks, “if there’s something on their resume they decided to take off so they could have a better chance getting that job?”
For over-qualified job seekers, “scaling back the truth—or at the least, some of their experiences—can feel like the only chance at an interview.” The new semantics include downgrading titles like “manager” to “staff” and “office support.”
Job seekers are frustrated and confused by which face to show the new workplace. One under-employed, over-experienced, executive-level resume-sender deleted details of her speaking engagements and board positions. Another complained that when she minimized her experience on paper, a potential employer called her references, only to find out she was over-qualified.
Yet another laid-off worker with years of executive experience sent out thousands of accurate resumes, only to receive zero job offers. “But I can’t dumb down my resume,” he says, “because that would be lying.”
Tell us what you think: Is dumbing down a resume unethical? Should survival trump responsibility, and if so, where do you draw the line? Is it more responsible to state your true experience, or to land a paycheck?
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downgrading a resume
It’s easy for the person that has a job and a full belly to say what is ethical and unethical as far as downgrading a resume is concerned. I’d like to see what they’d do after being told they are over qualified time and time again with no jobs in sight and they see the cupboards and fridge becoming empty or maybe have children to feed.
john doe | 4 months ago
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davis
I really don’t care
sheila davis | 4 months ago
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davis
I don’t agree
sheila davis | 4 months ago
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Accounting Technician
In today’s society, employers can find out pretty well everything about you just by knowing your name and address. As this is the case, I don’t really see the point of reducing the knowledge and experience one has so diligently achieved throughout your career. My question is Why have up the educational qualifications for a position that didn’t require a degree 20 years ago. The essential skills remain the same.
I lost my job late fall of 2008 and still have not found employment. Primary reason is the requirement to have a designation or be close to getting that designation (which for the record takes anywhere from 6 to 10 years).
To sum it all up, why downgrade your resume when most employers are looking for the higher education, experience and you need to be a genius to know every software application there is out there. Virtually impossible!!
And for the record, all for the Lower Paying Job. Thousands of dollars in education to earn close to minimum wage. What is wrong with that picture.
Judy Mcintosh | 4 months ago
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Manager, Services Dept.
I worked hard for the company. Was on call 24/7 to deal with problems. I never said anything out of line and came to work half an hour early and was last to leave each night. Being a salaried position and putting in 12 hour days, I really enjoyed what I did and even though I saw lots of dead wood hanging around, I did my own thing. Sure I got perks and felt I earned them. Then all the other managers got them too. Then one day I was laid off. The recession was tipped as the culprit. Strange though to see all the dead wood individuals still employed in the company through a trying recession.
Now five months later and trying really hard to be honest and send out resumes and letters of application , worded and reworked to perfection, nothing has showed up. I found Employment consultants who are swamped with candidates for individual jobs promising everyone the world, and cannot deliver.
What is even more odd is sending in Resumes to vacant positions and being shortchanged from them. Then 2 – 3 months later seeing the same job advertised again. Apparently the candidate chosen didn’t fit the bill and got downsized real quick as he didn’t measure up. Should one bother to re-apply, perhaps it doesn’t hurt, but at the same time one feels silly in doing so as you know the post will fill and you will never know. If it becomes vacant again, then there is little point in applying as the company look like they are an unscrupulous bunch to work for. Any company with high turnover of staff have serious dilemmas in their work area, or the supervisory people have inflated egos.
Then applying to the government for re-training on a second career situation, only to be turned down flat. Apparently I am readily employable. So, meanwhile when I cannot get a job, do I tell this to the bill collectors, What do I do in the meantime lie on my resume and doctor it up to look stupid. What is left to do.
After an exhausting 5 months of working equally hard in job hunting, an nothing in site, what can we do. This recession is not over by a long shot and don’t anyone kid you, it is. There is at least another 3 years in it, if not more. Saying this, though, we are looking at a World recession and few of us have a clue what is coming. We might be struggling now and barely existing, but I fear there are even stiffer times coming and few are prepared to meet them head on and survive.
Jeff Meyer. | 3 months, 4 weeks ago
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Former business owner
20 years, owning a multimillion dollar business, and multi
units. But alas I always had worked, so no education…and yetnone of that goes on the job application. I now work 4 jobs, and grateful for all of em, cuz the first two years of this hell wasn’t pretty…and NO I didn’t like living in my storage facility. And no I don’t appreciate being called a liar or dishonest, but I have to eat. Period, and have a place to live, I’m getting too old for being that tough. I’ve still never done a resume, because what’s the point. I hear enough at interviews, just talking to me, not even being aware of my full background that I am too over qualified, and I really do try to just listen and nod. So yes, with all those skills and having 85 employees…now I bust it…along with MBA’s and ph.d’s…doing grocery store resets, catering, selling cable, package delivery…sure I’d work at a car wash, you bet. I don’t know what the future holds, but SINCE I started “lying”, I work every day, usually 7 days a week, and that’s a whole lot better than when I used to hold out, and think I was going to make a living wage, hang onto my moderate home, and go on. I don’t have those illusions anymore. What else are we going to do? Our homes are gone, savings, retirement…all long gone if you were like me and tried to hang onto your businesses. Anyone can be as noble as they want, but you’ve gotta eat. Period.Kate | 3 months, 3 weeks ago
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Personal Banker
Many times, job descriptions do not tell the whole story. They are often understated so that if an over-qualified person decides to apply, he/she may be quite successful in transferring their skills and meeting the true expectations of the position. Therefore, even if your credentials seem to be below the job requirements, you might as well go for it.
Tom Rechner | 3 months, 3 weeks ago
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anything
i need some extra money. i get a SSI. Check that paids my Bills. i am a stay at home with two small children. I got two little girls a 1 half years old and a 3 months old little girl. I am sick and tried of being broke at the end of each month.
LISA MICHELLE ELLIS | 3 months, 3 weeks ago
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stay at home mom, not for long maybe
My husband was laid-off from a school district. You know a BA, experienced. But now trying to find work to take care of us (him, me, and two babies under 2). Even applying to Home Depot has been a challenge. We are on CalWorks, requirements are to be in the GAIN program. Through his required class, he was told to “dumb” down his resume. But even doing so, he has been asked “what have you done in those time periods?”. What should he say? He has almost 10 years of teaching. What, he was unemployed?
Lani | 3 months, 3 weeks ago
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Mr.
If your under 40 most managers won’t hire someone that could do his/her job.
If you “over(50)qualified” then its age discrimination by a different name.
A lot more boomers are going to just give up, take early retirement and let the younger workforce fund our social security. If you won’t let us work, then you can pay us to play.
Bob Endeymion | 3 months, 3 weeks ago
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