Resume Cheating Soars In Tough Economy

(CBS)  Ten years ago, Andrea Stanfield -- who now runs an animal rescue company -- was dogged by mounting legal bills as she fought for custody of her daughter. She needed a well-paying job.

"I would do anything, anything. What's the fastest way to get there before I lose my daughter, lose everything I have," she said.

But most well-paying jobs required a bachelor's degree. Andrea only had a high school diploma.

So the Ohio native lied on her resume, as CBS News Correspondent Kelly Wallace reports. She claimed to be a graduate of Akron University -- which is actually called the University of Akron.

Stanfield said she didn't think about the consequences.

"I worked really hard to put the consequences out of my head."

The lie led to two high-level financial jobs and a six-figure salary. But it also caused severe guilt, anxiety attacks and a second divorce.

"I did lose part of myself, part of my life, you can't get that back," said Stanfield. "I lived ten years of my life deceiving everyone I knew."

Three out of ten people lie on their resumes - according to experts.

In a tight economy, with unemployment close to ten percent more job seekers may be feeling desperate enough to stretch the truth.

"We have seen a substantial increase in resume fraud over the last 12 to 24 months," said Greg Slamowitz.

His firm counsels businesses on the importance of screening resumes. But even his company was almost fooled last year. A background check raised suspicions about a candidate's degree and her diploma.

"At first glance it looked good," he said. On closer examination, the word "ninety" was misspelled.

Ben Allen says clients at his security firm Kroll, are requesting more in-depth background checks than ever before. Ninety-six percent of companies nationwide do background checks - up from 66 percent more than ten years ago.

"People are asking us to check more than they have historically. So it would suggest they're more concerned about it," said Allen.

As for Andrea, after spending a decade looking over her shoulder, she quit her job before being caught and turned her past into a book: "Phony! How I Faked My Way Through Life."

"You might pull it off for years, but it's going to get worse and worse and worse," she said. "It's not worth it."

Andrea says her actions cost her her integrity, and ten years later she's still trying to earn it back.

[donnerwetter]

It is a war between companies and employees. Employers lie about their companies and employees lie about their slills. When the truth surfaces, eithe rthe employee leaves on his/her own or they get fired. Nothing new really.

[deezzer]

Have you guys read the book 'blink' by malcolm gladwell? We could use our collective 'instincts' to rate resumes for the genuine ones, in our same line of work (anonymously) here: http://www.resumerace.com

[anti-global2]

she should have to give her salary back to those companies even if it means she will end up homeless.
somewhere someone with a degree didn't get those jobs, and lets face it more educated people are better and worth more to society then those who are not.

[quapawsix]

Here's a prime example of lying
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) Trumpeting economic progress to a skeptical nation, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden says the massive government program intended to stimulate and reshape the economy is reaching and exceeding goals.

[quapawsix]

Oh I forgot the other examples to follow on this dishonest thing are the Rich elitists.

[quapawsix]

If people are being dishonest and lying they learned it from our wonderful leaders in Washington they are outstanding examples to follow they have been cheating and lying for years.

[Zowwyy]

I would have no problem adding that to my resume. Too many people have a degree, and how they managed to get it is beyond me after watching they them try to do the job. Someone with a degree should not automatically be chosen over someone with experience. If just getting adding a degree will get me the job, I will be adding that lie to my resume.

[isthatso-2009]

If you want to see the ultimate result for allowing the invasion of privacy of the individual, here it is. When did it become the "right" of an employer to look at an employee with a microscope? The employee NEVER has that ability with regard to the employer. What happened to being considered for a job based upon past performance, attitude, and results? Does anybody remember when you succeeded at a job because you had a commitment to excellence and actually were good at what you did? Remember the time when people came to work "on time" every day, departed work only after "quiting time", kept their private life out of the workplace, and conducted themselves with a professional attitude? We've lost touch of what really mattered, and turned it into a farce about "I have this piece of paper from so-and-so university...". No wonder people lie their ***** off about what piece of university paper they have. We've allowed business to make it that way. What a joke.

[jdbynum3]

The lady had to have something on the ball if she worked at a high paying job for 10 years and no one caught her deception. A piece of paper only get's you in the door. YOU are the one that keeps the door open.
In this day, folks seem to think that you MUST have a college degree to be credible and know what you are doing. I have met many educated idiots with degrees. I don't see why a person can't be knowledgeable with just a lowly high school diploma. For people that want to further their education with college, that's well and good. I completely support them. There are those of us though who are just as educated from the school of hard knocks and experience. I had a teacher in high school that said it best, "You can read a book all your life on how to swim and jump in the river and drown". Not all of us want to pursue a degree. Maybe it would be easier if you didn't have to have all the other BS courses that are required for it, not to mention the ridiculous cost the colleges rob from students.

[longtree-2009]

it's up to the employer, the personnel or human resources department, to conduct background validation investigations. it is not that difficult to do. as a rule, all resumes are padded to some degree just as applicants say what a employer wants to hear. employers beware.