Lying on Your Resume

When analyzing ethical dilemmas, my approach is to weigh all possible variables and outcomes and make an informed decision based on what the best course of action to take is after doing so. I have come up with logical reasoning as to why I came to the decision I did regarding “lying on a resume”. To me the answer is easy; don’t do it. Everything was going well for Quincy. Over the years, he had accomplished many things and his fame increased. He even held some quite prestigious teachings positions, including being a professor at the University of California at San Diego. He became known as one of the best poets in the country, a gifted teacher and person who was always giving back to the community. When 2002 came along though, things turned quite sour for Quincy. He was nominated for California’s Poet Laureate. Prior to his appointment though, the Governor’s chief of staff had an interview with him to make sure that there were no skeletons in the closet. But shortly after conducting their screening, the state legislature staffers discovered Quincy’s secret. Quincy had not graduated from Grambling, despite that fact that it was listed on his resume. Because of this discrepancy, Quincy was forced to resign his appointment as California’s Poet Laureate as well as contact University of California t San Diego and notify them about what had happened. Although most of the options are unfavorable for Quincy, one of them must go into effect in order for the mayhem to end. As part of the committee charged with the responsibility for deciding what the University now must do, it is my job to state my opinion in the matter and justify my claim. The first option would be to allow Quincy to continue teaching without any serious consequences. He would be put on a probationary period and if his work was still the quality it had been in the past by the end of this period, Quincy would be allowed to stay. In my opinion this would be my least favorite method of dealing with the situation. I think that by letting him stay would be a mistake. Not only does the University have its image and reputation to uphold, but what kind of message would they be sending students, other faculty, and community members? That it is ok to lie? That if you do and you get caught, you just get a clean slate? That is unfair to everyone. Even looking away from the issue of the school’s reputation and its negative message that would be sent, there is also the idea that students should get what they pay for. If this man had been one of my professors, I would feel let down and also ripped off. I would think one of the many reasons that the tuition costs so much is because the professors are “actual” professors with “actual” degrees and I would want to take full advantage of that as a “paying” student. There are reasons that there are certain requirements when applying for a job and just because Quincy may not have had one of those qualifications does not give him the right to take a valuable position away from someone who did have those credentials and could have gotten that job based on truths and not lies. I am sure that the faculty would be furious if the University decided to take the above action with Quincy. It’s unfair to the hardworking teachers who went to school and GOT their degree. They should have been offered Quincy’s job not Quincy! The second option would be to figure out more definitely, the exact circumstances of the case. For example, how close was he to graduating? A few credits shy of his degree? Or did he only go for one term? These are all important questions to think of when trying to determine if Quincy could possibly go back to school and get his degree and than having a job waiting for him when he finished with his schooling and got the Bachelors of Science degree. I think that this option too, is too lenient for the mistake that Quincy made. Why should he be given a second chanceanyways? Whether he was 4 credits short or 40, it still doesn’t change the fact that he lied to the University about his educational background. If he was the one who got himself into this whole predicament to begin with, than there should be no guilt on the University’s part. If this option were to be the one that University’s committee chose, could you imagine the unfairness it would resonate? It’s unfair in many ways including all of the listed above. A second chance for a man, who is dishonest and had lived on his lies for years, is ridiculous! The third option that the University, in my opinion should exercise is to fire Quincy. Quincy lied on a resume about his education to work as a professor at a prestigious university. He is fully in the wrong and has no excuse for his actions. Whether he was trying to advance his career is of no interest to me whatsoever as a committee member and I stand firmly behind my decision (vote) to have Quincy immediately terminated and removed from the campus. I think that his actions are irresponsible and set a bad example for all the students who attended University of California at San Diego and would be unfair to all the faculty members at University who have “real” degrees and the proper qualifications for the jobs that they hold. By firing Quincy, the school sets an example and shows that they may have been fooled but if found out, there will be actions taken and consequences will be had for the perpetrator. As for Quincy, he never should have lied on his resume. I realize that he wanted the job but it was unfair to trick the University into believing he was someone else than who he truly was. He let down the university, the students, the faculty, and all the community members who believed he was who he said he was. It’s too bad he didn’t just finish his degree and then applied for the position at the University. I think if I had been in his position, the guilt would have been overwhelming to me. A person who makes an honest living, even if it is not at a prestigious University, is much more a of a respectable person in my eyes than a person who fakes their qualifications but in fact, is not qualified at all for the job. After all, “The greatest way to live with honor in this world is to be what we pretend to be”. -Socrates