Write the word next to its definition. The sentences in the previous exercise will help you decide on the meaning of each word.

…………… Out of place, having parts that are not in harmony or that are inconsistent

…………….. Holding firmly; persistent; stubborn

…………….. A peak of achievement

……………. Not up to the scratch; nothing special, second-rate

……………. To give an authority, a legal right, an honour; to discuss something in order to reach a decision

……………. A situation marked by difficulty, hardship or misfortune

……………. To make up a story in order to deceive; invent a lie

…………… The exact opposite

…………… Make something (number, price) higher than it should be

…………….. Having little substance or basis; weak; poorly supported

…………… Skillful and clever under challenging conditions

…………… Correctness in behaviour and manners; standards or conventions of socially acceptable behaviour

…………… Truly sorry for having done wrong; repentant

Using the answer line provided, complete each item below with the correct word from the box. Use each word once.

Antithesis, pinnacle, tenuous, incongruous, decorum, fabricate, inflate, confer, tenacious, contrite, plight, adroit, mediocre

1. Dolores was especially ………. that her late coming nearly ruined negotiations.

2. When the evidence does not validate their theories, scrupulous researchers will report this honestly. But less conscientious researchers will flout scientific ethics and …………. fake “results” to appear to prove their theories.

3. David’s outfit seems ……………. for the rigid dress-code of the bank. Nobody though dares to reprimand him. He is on the board of directors.

4. Robin felt that being elected class president was the ………… of her college years. Her parents, though, wish that she had thought of her personal best more in terms of academic achievement.

5. Greta was so ………… at mechanical drawing in high school that I wasn’t surprised to hear she’d reached the zenith of success as an architect.

6. Andy is the ………. of Randy: the former being free-spirited and the latter timid and cautious. However they work successfully together complementing each other.

7. Foreign Service officers must observe strict rules of conduct. If their behaviour violates …………, their government may have to extricate itself from a diplomatic mass.

8. The ……… of the unemployed can be radically changed by creating jobs for them.

9. The infringement of ethics can entail serious repercussions for the career from making it ………… to terminating it completely.

10. My father has a ………….. belief in global good will. Even his own sordid experience hasn’t changed him.

11. A share …………(s) certain rights on the person who holds it.

12. Our egos were already ………..(d) by success.

13. We have no room here for …………. performers.

B. Inflated Qualifications

➢ It’s not easy to land a job. You should certainly present yourself to the best advantage both in CV and at the interview. What can be done if you don’t have much experience? However, you should remember the rules of ethics.

Read the article.

Ethics: Are Inflated Qualifications Worth the Risk

Job candidates are expected to highlight their strengths and minimize their weaknesses when they present their qualifications in resumes and interviews. But some candidates violate rules of decorum stepping over the line that separates honest self-marketing from deceptive half-truths and flat-out lies. A study by an independent investigative firm revealed that out of 200 applicants, 30 percent trying to assume more alluring image incorrectly reported dates of employment and 11 percent misrepresented their reasons for leaving a previous job. A more damaging survey in Industry Week showed that in the attempt to bolster their tenuous work experience, more than two thirds of candidates fabricate fraudulent job histories and 30 percent of checked resumes contained untruthful statements about educational status. And a study of college students found that 95 percent aspiring to achieve the pinnacle as quickly as possible are willing to give at least one false statement to get a job.

No matter how tenacious your determination to get a job is, distorting facts on a resume or in an interview is incongruous with ethics. Lying is illegal and it can destroy a career. At one of the top accounting firms, the human resources director said, “If we find a discrepancy in educational status or prior experience due to an honest mistake, we meet with the new hire to hear an explanation. But if it wasn’t a mistake his plight is macabre, we terminate the person immediately. Unfortunately we’ve had to do that too often”.

Many consider themselves adroit in different deceptive schemes and do not feel contrite about using them.

No job seeker however wants to be in the unhappy position of explaining or defending misrepresentation. Avoiding the following common problems can keep you off the hot seat.

Inflated education grades, or honors. Some job candidates claim degrees from colleges and universities when in fact they merely attended classes. Others increase their grade-point averages or claim fictitious honors. Any such dishonest reporting is grounds for dismissal when discovered.

Enhanced job titles. Not wishing to look just as mediocre and to elevate their status, some applicants misrepresent their titles. For example, one technician called himself a “programmer” when he had actually programmed only one project for his boss. A mail clerk who assumed added responsibilities conferred upon herself the title of supervisor. Even when the description seems accurate, it’s unethical to list any title not officially grated. If you feel that a job title inaccurately describes your real duties, check with your supervisor to see if you could use a better title.

Puffed-up accomplishments. Some job seekers inflate their employment experience or achievements, the result may be the striking antithesis to their expectations. One clerk, eager to make her photocopying duties sound more important, said that she assisted the vice president in communicating and distributing employee directives. An Ivy League graduate who spent the better part of six months watching rented videos on his VCR described the activity as Independent Film Study. The latter statement helped win an interview, but it lost him the job. In addition, guard against taking sole credit for achievements that required many people.

Altered employment dates. Some candidates extend the dates of employment to hide unimpressive jobs or to cover periods of unemployment and illness. Let’s say that several years ago Cindy was unemployed for fourteen months between working for company A and being hired by company B. To improve her employment history, she adds seven months to her tenure with company A and seven months to company B. Now her history has no gaps. But she has laid a potential trap for herself.

Today more than ever, you want to be accurate in making statements describing your qualifications. That’s because hiring companies are no longer casual in checking candidates’ backgrounds. Employers can’t afford the costs of negligent-hiring lawsuits, rapid turnover, workplace violence, fraud, and lost productivity resulting from bad hiring. It pays them to engage independent investigating firms who thoroughly check facts with previous employers and your references.

Giving deceptive information to potential employers can endanger your entire employment future. If your honest qualifications aren’t good enough to get you a job you want, start working now to improve them.