Yahoo! CEO! didn't! even! read! his! own! CV! Yahoo! CEO Scott Thompson has said that the fuss over his CV and the computer science degree that never was is totally not his fault - because he never gave the web firm his résumé or told them what qualifications he had. Thompson is in hot water over a discrepancy in SEC-filed paperwork that stated he held a computing degree …
My CV is totally honest and it makes life a lot easier at interviews. However one agency I dealt with in Belgium changed my CV (adding length of experience, some minor new skills) without my knowledge and I was presented with the new version in the car on the way to the interview. Looking back I should have dished the dirt on the agent at the interview, but I wanted the contract. It turned out alright, and the contract didn't call upon my new skills (ahem).
Would it wash if they found one of their employees had an incorrect CV, and they said "I didn't bother to read it, and then when I was aware people had got the wrong idea, I didn't bother to correct them because it would be a bit awkward"?
I don't think so. It's about time the behaviour and pay of the folks holding jobs on this level were more closely regulated, cause they're getting paid ridiculous sums and getting away with things that would ensure the rest of us could never find another job again. It's getting out of hand.
On a side note, I wonder if correcting the interviewer would have been more awkward than all this?
Sounds like a typical agency edited CV.
They always miss a bit of my CV out when they send it to clients. The bit at the beginning which says:
"All the events and people in this document are imaginary. Any resemblance to real events or actual people (living, dead or shortly to make the transition), is purely coincidental."
Who gives a $#!+?
He's the CEO of Yahoo. I doubt a degree in computer science would make a different in how he runs a company, period. Degrees today help land a job, and in a lot of cases, don't even help do that anymore because a lot of people with comp sci degrees are horrible in computer science.
So the details of a degree may not be relevant, to him, or to any of us. I once did a Cobol course. Never used it.
However, a degree demonstrates a relevant grounding in analysis and reasoning, general background in the methods and issues of the discipline concerned, understanding of the common techniques as well as proof of experience and length of time in the industry.
I guess none of this matters for today's CEO.
<< It's claimed that Thompson has suggested to his staff that the person who originally interviewed him might have been at a junior level. >>
It is foolish to suggest that a junior person is charged with interviewing a future CEO of a multi-billion dollar company.
<< And the Yahoo! chief added that when he was asked about his degree in computer science during a chat with National Public Radio in the US, he didn't simply correct them because that would have been a bit awkward. >>
Yeah, right.
At the time he was working for Paypal, and for some odd reason he never got around to correcting this error - not even when moving on to Yahoo! - thus perpetuating the fraud. At best this was a lie by omission. At worst, as suggested by the National Public Radio interviewer, this was a plain, shameless lie.
However good he may be in his job, the guy must be fired with cause.
This is just comic at this point. According to Thompson, someone gave him a degree he did not have 12 years ago. He not only did not read his resume before it was submitted to Paypal, he was apparently never able to read any of the dozens of other bios published about him in the mean time or ever listen to his introduction when he was speaking at any conference. ATD has a recording of a reporter point blank telling him that he has degrees in accounting and computer science. Not only does he not correct her, he goes on to discuss how his "engineering" background has helped him. It is beyond absurd.
We're not saying it's your fault. Not at all. We're just saying it's your RESPONSIBILITY.
Responsibility is what makes your pseudo-excuses even more lame than they already are. And the fact that someone apparently needs to explain this to you is what makes me believe that you are indeed not fit to run any company, even if it's naught but a bunch a Yahoos.
But don't worry, Mr. Thompson, you're not alone. There are plenty of CEOs like yourself who blame others and say "not my fault !" as soon as something goes wrong while pocketing plenty of dollars in "compensation" for the "heavy responsibilities" of their position.
Actually, it's the CEO who has the balls to step up to the plate and say "my bad, sorry for that, here's my resignation if you wish" who should be applauded for the proper interpretation of the word "responsibility". I'd even cut him some slack - once. And frankly, I find very surprising that there are so few CEOs who have taken this step, when - from what I've heard - they're all trying to position themselves as the unique swan in a sea of ducks.
But hey, what do I know ? I only have what I've actually done on my CV, so I'm clearly not CEO material.
I have a PHD in whatever you're looking for, a 600 grade point average in every subject conceived by mankind and I once invented the concept that your company is based on.
If you would like to tender an offer for directorship I will be happy to have someone review it for me.
Dictated, not read.
Lord Synjin Bottomly-Smythe (mrs)
Agency ("executive placement firm") made up his CV because they thought it would get him through the door. In all likelihood he never even saw it.
Anybody actually thinking that the above is unlikely either needs a bit more exposure to job hunting in the IT industry or just needs to get off their high horse.
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