What are the consequences for the city manager and the citizens of the town? Recently, the city manager of a small town was fired because he listed a degree in city planning on his resume he did not actually have. Being two classes short of a college degree, he decided close enough was as good as the degree—except that it was not. It was a lie.

Many people have skeletons in their closets: a court conviction, a substance abuse problem, or an unfinished degree. It is true that on paper, someone with a conviction does not look as credible as the person with a sterling record. Someone without the proper degree does not look as qualified as the person with the degree.

However, the truth is better than any lie fabricated to cover up a misdeed.

If a person cannot be trusted to complete employment data honestly, then this candidate is not a good risk for a company.