Question

An old classmate and friend applies to the company you work for. Knowing that you recently graduated from the same school, the hiring manager shows you the resume your classmate submitted and asks for your opinion. You find that your friend has claimed to have been an officer in an engineering society that you are not sure he was a member of. However, you know he is very talented and could help the company. What should your most ethical response be?

Answer 1

Answer:

You should recommend the applicant, but qualify your recommendation by pointing out that you think he may have exaggerated some details on his resume

Explanation:

Engineers are ethically obligated to prevent the misrepresentation of their associate's qualifications. You must make your employer aware of the incorrect facts on the resume. On the other hand, if you really believe that the applicant would make a good employee, you should make that recommendation as well. Unless you are making the hiring decision, ethics requires only that you be truthful. If you believe the applicant has merit, you should state so. It is the company's decision to remove or not remove the applicant from consideration because of this transgression.