How a member represents his or her qualifications and experience on a resume and when applying for ICMA’s Voluntary Credentialed Manager program reflects on a member’s integrity. A member should always be sure his or her approach is consistent with the Tenet 3 guideline on credentials.
Members have been sanctioned for the following unethical conduct concerning the presentation of their professional and/or educational credentials:
- A member served 13 communities in 17 years and omitted some of those jobs and dates of employment from his resume that he submitted for a job opening.
- A manager falsified his educational credentials on the ICMA membership application, a resume for employment, and under oath during a deposition; applied for the ICMA Credentialed Manager designation when he knew his educational credentials were falsified and did not meet the requirements for the credential; failed to correct a falsification of his personnel file; and provided false documents in response to a media request for information about his credentials.
- A member misrepresented credentials in obtaining a position appointment by claiming he had earned a bachelor's degree from a college that does not confer those degrees.
- A member indicated on a job application that he had earned an MPA, but not all coursework had been completed to receive the diploma at the time of application. Inaccurate credentials led to excluding candidates with appropriate credentials from the employment process.
- A member applied for a manager position and omitted employment where he was fired, and claimed to have a degree and other educational experience that he did not possess.
Applicable Tenet and Guidelines
Tenet 3. Demonstrate by word and action the highest standards of ethical conduct and integrity in all public, professional, and personal relationships in order that the member may merit the trust and respect of the elected and appointed officials, employees, and the public.
Guideline on Public Confidence. Members should conduct themselves so as to maintain public confidence in their position and profession, the integrity of their local government, and in their responsibility to uphold the public trust.
Guideline on Credentials. A member’s resume for employment or application for ICMA’s Voluntary Credentialing Program shall completely and accurately reflect the member’s education, work experience, and personal history. Omissions and inaccuracies must be avoided.
