Someone co-opted part of my resume as his own!

I was looking for an old coworker, to share some sad news (the bulldog he sold to me died the other day). I couldn't find any contact for him, but I found his resume on Linked In, and he lists MY job as part of HIS resume, for the time we worked together!

I always liked the guy. We never went out socially (different age, different lifestyles), but I gave him some good references and got him some interviews after we'd parted ways professionally.

Should I bust him with his current employer? I wouldn't care if he just lied, but he TOOK MY CREDENTIALS. And that hits me personally. My gut says to not be real happy about having to it, but to do it.

I vote not to tell his current employer.

I think it's one of those things that will feel good when you do it, but then you'll regret it eventually.

You could be destroying this guy's life if he gets fired, and what he did to you is not nearly as bad. Just send him a note telling him to stop listing your credentials as his own. If that doesn't work, then maybe you tell his employer.

Resume fraud is frequent.

I would vote not to blindside him. It is virtually impossible to police the world, and you will probably end up in your word against his. Education fraud is much easier to prove.

The right thing to do is to contact him directly and tell him to remove the lie from his resume. There's really nothing else you can do at this point. Telling his employer will just invoke bad karma on you. It's up to the employer to verify the facts on one's resume and to qualify one for the job. People lie on their resume all of the time.

Just let it go. It's not like he took your credentials, and you can't use them anymore. They are still your credentials, so who cares?

I want to do that, but I can't find any way to contact him other than through Linked In, and I would have to upgrade to Premium ($20/mo). I joined Facebook to try to track him down, but I found no definitive profile for him.

(edit) found an email for him. Handled it that way. I'm glad I asked for advice before doing what I wanted to, it's about 10-1 across 3 forums to handle it person to person.

If you don't have any way to contact him, how did you plan on exposing the fraud?

I mean, if your main goal is to contact him, just contact the employer, stating that you're a former co-worker, wishing to make contact as a friend.

Quote: Mosca

I want to do that, but I can't find any way to contact him other than through Linked In, and I would have to upgrade to Premium ($20/mo). I joined Facebook to try to track him down, but I found no definitive profile for him.

(edit) found an email for him. Handled it that way. I'm glad I asked for advice before doing what I wanted to, it's about 10-1 across 3 forums to handle it person to person.

I'm glad it worked out Mosca. My concern would be that you have no way of knowing for sure if he listed your job has part of his application with his present employer. Contacting his present employer could have opened you up to a slander lawsuit.

Wow, I guess I'm part of the minority. I would've totally just gone to the employer and said something.

Quote: FinsRule

You could be destroying this guy's life if he gets fired

Mosca would not have been responsible for getting him fired, his friend would be! I think you're displacing responsibility here.

But it doesn't matter since Mosca's already contacted the dude. I would've gone straight to the top and outed that guy.

Please let us know if the guy admits he was wrong and takes it out, or if he tries to stand by his resume. Inquiring minds want to know

After working ages in HR I can tell you we get ton's of calls about an employee with this allegation or that. Unless it is made by another employee we are under no obligation to investigate. If it is a criminal act we would tell you to contact the police. I have seen well over 100k CV's and I would stake my life that 99% have embellishments if not outright lies.
Even when we are called for employee verification we only give dates employees, salary, title. Nothing else.

Hmmm here's my two cents. I a fully qualified civil engineer, and have a CV to die for right now. But 10 years ago I was 'creative' with the truth to get the job I needed/wanted. I got qualified 6 or 7 years ago, and since then the CV has been thinned out and now its 100% the truth and nothing but the truth.

Did I commit a crime? No, not as far as I am aware.
Was I misleading? Yes.
Did I do a good job? Of course I did.

Nobody got hurt, and I never got fired for being unable to do something or producing work of sub-standards.
For anyone interested I worked on the following if you want to see what I do ;-)

Selfridges Birmingham UK - Senior Engineer aged 19 - Won an award for something, I cant remember.
Diamond Light Source Didcot UK - Senior Engineer aged 23ish
Wembley Stadium London UK
Heathrow Terminal 5

I now have a daughter who lives with the ex, whom I pay about the equivalent of $250 a week. My sole aim is to be able to make sure she gets what she needs, and given that the whole of the UK is in a major recession, I am lucky to have what I have. I don't regret one bit what I did. It's survival of the fittest. I'd do it again if I had to, beats sitting at home getting fat in front of the TV costing the rest of the country to keep me.

So I would get over it. Fair play to this person for not being a bum!

Quote: RaleighCraps

Please let us know if the guy admits he was wrong and takes it out, or if he tries to stand by his resume. Inquiring minds want to know

I will, but my bet, knowing the man, is that he doesn't change it and he doesn't contact me.

Quote: Mosca

I will, but my bet, knowing the man, is that he doesn't change it and he doesn't contact me.

He's probably embarrassed he got caught and maybe surprised you found out. I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't respond.