Welcome to the Daily Roundup. Each day at the ThinkTalk Blog we will post some links that we find informative, interesting, or just plain funny. The goal is to let you know what else is going on out there, and ultimately help you with the development of your career.

Without further blah blah blah . . .

For obvious reasons the bulk of posts and articles we’ve come across the last few weeks focus primarily on the economy, a declining job market, and tips on how to work around this.

The general theme seems to be “look, it’s a tough economy, and jobs are few and far between. That means that you will see increased competition and thus, increased scrutiny from hiring managers.”

All of our links today warn of potential hazards and obstacles the economy can place in the path of your job search. Just remember, there isn't just One thing you can do to increase your chances. But it appears there is One thing you can do to decrease them.

The Wall Street Journal says this scrutiny includes Resume Fraud

Experts warn that the prevalence of résumé fraud may increase as the economy worsens. As more people search for jobs -- and become increasingly desperate to land them -- hiring managers should be on guard. "Historically, when the employment market tightens, falsifications, elaborations [and] expansions tend to increase," says Peter LeVine, a professional background checker in Delray Beach, Fla.

I think it is clear that resume fraud is something you should avoid on it's face for simple ethical and moral reasons. But with hiring managers alert to the growing trend pouring over your resume, you would have to be a complete bonehead to attempt it now.

But it does happen, and on that note, Anita Bruzzes at On the Job runs a nice little hypothetical transcript of how an interview might be handled when the applicant attempts resume fraud.

"Ms. Smith, I have to tell you we're concerned about some of these discrepancies. Didn't you read our ethics rules when you applied for this job? That we have specific rules about truthfulness and full disclosure?" "Well, sure I did. But I thought they were more like guidelines, rather than actual rules." "Goodbye, Ms. Smith. And good luck -- you're going to need it."

Finally, Alexandra Levit’s Water Cooler Wisdom blog points out the fate of some Virgin Atlantic flight attendants who were canned for criticizing their employer via Facebook. While the subject of an online footprint isn't technically part of your resume, it is something that will be looked at when applying for a job. And something that, clearly, can come back to haunt you.

People, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. You must assume that everything you post on a social networking profile – either your own or someone else’s – will be read by your employer. Even if a site is password protected, there’s no guarantee that the content won’t get into the wrong hands.

So, uh, next time you head to Vegas, you may want to leave the camera phone in your room

Other links of general interest:

The New York Times says: More students than ever are participating in study abroad. Specifically, China has seen an increase of 25% in the number of visiting American students. Where are you going to go? The New York Times also says: Public university presidents see a faster rise in pay those at private universities. This is a pretty comprehensive take on presidents’ pay and rate of increase. Feel free to discuss the pros and cons of presidents’ pay in our comments. Personal Branding Blog thinks: YOU NEED PERSONAL BRANDING CLASSES.
BullsEyeResumes warns: Don’t pay resume writing fees if you are a college student. Not. Worth. It.