Edmondson Not Only One Lying on Resume

Feb. 21, 2006 — -- RadioShack CEO David Edmondson resigned Monday after the Star-Telegram of Fort Worth, Texas, reported he had lied on his resume.

But Edmondson is not alone. Experts say about 25 percent of Americans embellish their resumes.

"For some people, it's very much that what can I get away with?" said Jude Werra, who runs an executive search firm. "For some, it's a lack of confidence that, absent the credential, they may be in trouble."

Edmondson claimed degrees in both theology and psychology from Pacific Coast Baptist College in California. The school's registrar told the Star-Telegram that records showed Edmondson had completed two semesters and that the school had never offered degrees in psychology.

Last month, the mayor of Rancho Mirage, Calif., admitted he didn't hold degrees that he'd claimed. A former football coach at Notre Dame and a former spokesman for NASA were also caught padding their resumes.

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"They believe people will not verify their academic background and by not checking they get a home free," Werra said.

A recent congressional investigation uncovered 463 federal employees who had credentials from unaccredited schools giving bogus degrees, including three individuals with high-level security clearance.

Some states are taking action. Washington is set to approve a $1,000 fine for people claiming fake degrees on their resumes.