KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK
While we've all lied a little bit on our resume, in a story seemingly borrowed from the plot of the film "Catch Me If You Can", Cindy T. White, 41, of Slidell, Louisiana, copied details from the LinkedIn profile of a qualified professional, and – along with a stolen driver's license number and social security number – successfully applied for a job as a human resources manager. Despite having no prior experience in her role – or in the HR industry – White was promoted after five months at Diversified Foods & Seasonings, becoming the Senior Human Resources Director, an executive-level position complete with a $105,000 salary.
According to Orlando's WFTV, "Company officials became suspicious a few months later when they noticed that White had trouble with duties that she should have been able to perform based on her alleged educational background."
TELL ME, WHO ARE YOU?
White, who already had a criminal record – including a stint of probation after being convicted of a prior identity theft while working at a sheriff's office– worked for seven months at Diversified Foods & Seasonings before her colleagues and supervisors realized she may not have possessed the skills and educational background she claimed; According to WFTV, her fraudulent resume listed a bachelor's degree from Tulane University and a master's degree from Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
Once her colleagues took a closer look at her documentation, they realized White may not have been who she claimed. They then called the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office, where an investigation uncovered the scam.
At her trial, while prosecutors argued that White had fraudulently collected $56,209 during the seven months she worked in HR at Diversified Foods & Seasonings, her "defense attorney argued that she earned the salary she received."
While we don't condone identity theft – or any kind of criminal activity – after working for seven months in a senior a role without any prior experience, it seems White may possess innate skills and knowledge that make her a natural. After all, she was promoted after less than half a year on the job!
But given she's facing a ten-year prison sentence, recruiters may have to wait to scoop her up.
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