I found this interesting article on the CNN Money website the other day, with this up-front disclaimer: "Warning: What you're about to read may not be true" - For Hire: Professional Liars for Job Seekers.
The article discusses a company called Paladin Deception Services which, for an appropriate fee, will provide professional, well-backstopped lies in support of its clients. Services can be as mundane as providing an alibi for a philandering husband to creating fully-documented resumes and references for people who have unfortunate job experiences in their background. Paladin states on its website: "We're the leader in covert disinformation."*
Is it real? The urban legend debunking site Snopes.com doesn't have anything on it, at least not yet, and there are similar, if less than full-service professional dissembling services available, such as CareerExcuse.com, The Reference Store, and Fake Your Job.
Q) What if I get caught? (yes, the font on the website is in red)
A) As with all things, there are risks. If the deception is uncovered, you could very well be terminated from a job or be in trouble with a loved one or spouse.
Paladin also imposes some limits on what services it will provide. These include (again, from their FAQ page):
No Employment with Law Enforcement Agencies;
No Employment in Education (K thru 12);
No Employment giving Legal Advice;
No Employment giving Medical Care of any kind;
No Employment with any Federal**, State, County or City Government Agency or Department; and,
No Employment with public or private jails.
Is it real? It seems legitimate, although I found enough typos and such on it to make it look a bit less professionally-designed that I'd expect. If it is legitimate, it's another sad commentary on the economy, the job environment, and the ongoing force of the commandment which admonishes that Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness Against Thy Neighbor.
Caveat emptor.
Have a good day. More thoughts coming.
Bilbo
* This distinguishes them from Faux News and most Super-PACs in that they admit their specialization in disinformation up front.
** Nowadays, most people probably wouldn't want service in Congress on their resume, anyhow.
** Nowadays, most people probably wouldn't want service in Congress on their resume, anyhow.
4 comments:
I hope it's a hoax, but it may be real. So sad.
Probably, if "services" such as this catch on, comapnies will have to rely more on the old boys' or old girls' networks to verify job applications. It will become increasingly hard for outsiders.
It looks like Paladin has the same address and phone number as a Minnesota Private Investigator firm.
So is the firm playing on both sides of the street?
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