Resume Writers and Ghost-Written Dating Profiles
I came across this BBC news story about people who have experts ghostwrite their online dating profiles. The article explores pros and cons, but there is a strong theme that having someone write your profile is dishonest and unethical.
Why?
How is it different than contracting to have anything else ghost-written, most pointedly (since this is an HR blog) one’s resume? Many people need assistance packaging, presenting, marketing themselves. It is only unethical, in my opinion, if the resulting resume or dating profile doesn’t match up with reality. Yes, I graduated cum laude from Harvard. Yes, I am a 23 year old 5’8″ natural blonde. Yes, I garnered twenty three billion dollars in sales.
And it’s dishonest if you claim credit for what you didn’t produce, if you tell your date that yes, you conceived the concept for that amazing ad and you wrote the copy, because you have a lot of talents, three of which are creativity, writing, and design.
But that’s just my opinion. What do you think?
photo by inju
I don’t think it is different and agree that as long as the content is honest, it’s fine. Especially with resumes, it is a good idea to have a professional help with the editing and phrasing of the content. A bad written resume can land in the trash quickly. And, while I’ve never done online dating, I’m sure that a poorly written profile can have a great catch passed right by.
Trish McFarlane´s last [type] ..Lightning in a Bottle
Thanks for your comment, Trish.
In the unlikely event that I am ever in need of a dating profile, my plan is to get my recruiter/resume pro friends to help!