The Business Ethics Blog

I blogged this morning about a WSJ story on executives exaggerating academic credentials. One of the questions left open by that story was the apportionment of blame across the executives themselves and the organizations they work for. Now here’s a story about an organization going to extreme lengths to verify job applicants’ credentials.

From the NYT: For a Washington Job, Be Prepared to Tell All

Want a top job in the Obama administration? Only pack rats need apply, preferably those not packing controversy.

A seven-page questionnaire being sent by the office of President-elect Barack Obama to those seeking cabinet and other high-ranking posts may be the most extensive — some say invasive — application ever.

The questionnaire includes 63 requests for personal and professional records, some covering applicants’ spouses and grown children as well, that are forcing job-seekers to rummage from basements to attics, in shoe boxes, diaries and computer archives to document both their achievements and missteps.

Also:

The first question asks applicants not just for a résumé, but for every résumé and biographical statement issued by them or others for the past 10 years — a likely safeguard against résumé falsehoods….

Here’s a link to the entire questionnaire.
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Tip of the hat to Wayne!