February 22, 2006: Examining The Thoughts Behind A Driveway Moment

On my return drive from a hearing on Tuesday, I listened to an NPR report entitled “Examining The Reasons Behind Lying.” I dig listening to NPR and often find myself having one of those “driveway moments” when I arrive at home and simply must keep the car’s engine running so I may listen to the conclusion of a particular NPR story. I would have had another “driveway moment” yesterday, but I had to get back to the office. The good news is that thanks to the internet, I could listen to the remainder of the show.

The guests on the panel discussed the unfortunate practice of lying on resumes. If you follow the business news, then you may have heard that the CEO of Radio Shack admitted misstating his academic record. Several callers offered interesting perspectives on their experiences with resumes, but one caller who spoke near the end of the show really piqued my interest when he considered what consequence, if any, should result when someone “dumbs down” his resume. In the typical case of resume falsification, a person will claim an achievement that never occurred. But what--if anything-- should result when someone refuses to list something noteworthy on his or her application for work? Should the omission of an accomplishment matter?

Consider the following:

Hypothetical #1: You are a 2005 cum laude law school graduate who also holds a bachelor’s degree with a double major in English and Comparative Literature and Anthropology. You seek a job as an advertising copyright executive (because that’s how I’ve constructed this hypothetical), yet despite your cumulative 3.64 GPA, a glowing recommendation from a former governor, and more than 71 cover letters, everywhere you’ve applied has no openings and you cannot find an advertising job. Meanwhile, you have a monthly rent payment, electric payment, gas bill, water bill, telephone bill, internet bill, and, of course, giant cable payment (the last of which is indispensable because you must catch Jon Stewart’s The Daily Show). And you also have several loans. Student loans. Thousands upon thousands of dollars of them. Having exhausted inquiries at the available pool of franchised restaurants that now dot your town’s local sprawl, you’re considering applying for work at a video store. But you now suspect that if you list your J.D. that it may hinder any prospect of employment there. Do you omit your legal education from your application? What about your college degree? And how, if at all, does the Republican Party affect your answer?

Hypothetical #2: Many years ago, when you were young, so much younger than today, you were a mighty fine major league prospect. You could throw a fastball over 90 miles an hour, and in an exhibition, you struck out a well-known home run hitter on three straight pitches. But before your tryout with a certain Midwest big league ball club, you encountered some trouble and you completely disappeared from the baseball scene. Sixteen years later, you’re playing in the minors. A scout for a major league team sees your playing and asks you about your past. Do you omit your accomplishments as a major league prospect? What effect, if any, does Kim Basinger (pre-Alec Baldwin) have on your response?

February 20, 2006: Remembering Dad

In my current work, I often travel to different counties in West Virginia, and I’ll meet people at their local public library. My dad, of course, served as the director of the West Virginia State Library Commission for almost a quarter of a century. I remember our family often accompanied him when he spoke at the dedication of a library whose construction had resulted from his efforts. My sister and I would run around eating cookies and making mischief while my dad and mom socialized with others.

Last December, while waiting to meet with someone, I thought one of the libraries looked familiar, so I looked around to see if I could find any information on the building. Then I noticed a plaque on the wall with my dad’s name and the date of the library’s dedication. I knew I had been there, and when I checked with my mom, she confirmed it.

Not only does today mark President’s Day, but it’s also my father’s birthday. Since my dad’s death over eight years ago, not a day has passed that I haven’t thought about him. But even if I were to forget, it’s good to know that the results of his work and those who remember his good deeds will always remind me of him.