Yahoo CEO Scott Thompson resigned yesterday after it was discovered that he misrepresented his academic credentials. Thompson claimed to have a degree in computer science but he only holds a degree in accounting.
Thompson’s certainly not the first person to lie on a resume. Many other high-profile executives, politicians, and sports and entertainment figures have bent the truth on their resumes only to have the situation backfire, yet the practice continues.
While no one ever has a good reason to lie on a resume, Thompson’s case strikes me as a great example of a bad reason to lie on your resume. He is obviously an accomplished executive who held significant technology roles at PayPal, Visa, Barclay’s and other well-know companies prior to coming to Yahoo. His achievements were many. What was the point of pretending to have a technology-specific degree from 25+ years back? Can you imagine rejecting a candidate with so much relevant experience because he earned his degree in a different field over 3 decades ago?
Thompson’s situation is unfortunate, but maybe it is a good reminder to all that a resume is an opportunity to prove your value and relevance to a prospective organization. Employers are most interested in what you have done lately that can help their organization move forward. If you are a job seeker with several years of experience under your belt, where you went to school and what you studied are rarely deal breakers.