Roxy Jacenko has publicly called out a former intern for falsifying a reference signed in her name, uploading a screenshot of the reference in question to Instagram.
The letter, which endorsed the intern in question by praising her “marvellous performance” and “amazing prospects for the future”, was brought to the PR mogul’s attention through a run-of-the-mill reference check.
Talking to Mamamia about the fake reference and her subsequent decision to name and shame on social media, Jacenko said the person interned at Sweaty Betty PR casually for 24 hours over the course of one month and “never received a written reference letter from Sweaty Betty PR”.
“I became aware that the letter was circulating during a reference check by another company that [the intern] was applying for a position with.
"As far as I am aware this has not happened with any other intern – falsifying documents is illegal, so I was shocked that even one person would implicate themselves by forging a document."
Jacenko added her reasoning for putting the reference on social media came from a simple a desire to clear her own name.
"I uploaded the post as it’s totally unacceptable and I don’t want people within the industry to think I am recommending this deceitful person.
"People work so hard to get the jobs of their dreams, so it’s not fair for those who have put in the hours, when they are up against candidates that use fraudulent references. Have authenticity and you’ll get the job you want!" she said.
According to Steve Shepherd, recruitment expert and CEO of career coaching firm TwoPointZero, forging documents or lying on a resume, these days, rarely goes unchecked.
Top Comments
Wow, silly thing to do. Did she really think the employers wouldn't check? I wouldn't have thought PR is *that* huge of an industry, I'm guessing it's one of those 'everyone knows everyone' kind of deals, and Roxy is very well known. It seems almost inevitable that she got caught out.
Lying is a bad way to start a new job, even if you weren't caught.