The Dreaded Background Check (OPINION)

A note came in recently via email with the subject line, “The Dreaded Background Check.”

Because of my interest in college basketball, on this particular day, I knew what the subject was referring to before ever opening the email.

A basketball coach considered an up-and-comer in the industry was hired at a more high-profile university. The job offer was rescinded, however, when the school’s background check revealed the coach had fudged on his resume.

Specifically, he claimed having a college degree, when, in fact, he never graduated from said institution.

In this instance, it cost the coach a long-term contract valued at a minimum of $5 million, not to mention possible consequences from his current employer (as of this writing, the coach did not formally resign to take the new job, and on March 26 was placed on leave pending review of his college credentials).

In 2002, a similar situation tripped up Tom Collen, who was recently let go as women’s basketball coach at Arkansas.

One day after being introduced as the women’s coach at Vanderbilt, Collen was forced to quit when a background check found inaccuracies about his academic degrees on a 1997 resume.

In this case, though, Collen, who had resigned from Colorado State University, did nothing wrong. His alma mater said a month later it had made a mistake, and Collen had the exact credentials he said he did.

Considering Vanderbilt and CSU had hired new coaches, it probably didn’t lessen the sting for Collen (although a reported settlement of $900,000 from Vanderbilt probably did).

Is it OK to lie on a resume? It’s a question many professionals have likely pondered.

It’s probably best to let real qualifications speak for themselves. If you’d rather not, beware. Companies are expanding use of background checks, and the digital age has made instant information readily available.

And a lie is never a good ethical standard to set.