The Bert Show – Vault: She Lied Her Resume. Now She's Being Called to the Boss's Office.
Date: March 26, 2026
Cast: Bert, Kristin, Abby, Cassie, Tommy, and callers
Central Guest: Katie
Episode Overview
In this dramatic episode, The Bert Show discusses the fallout from a listener, Katie, who admitted to fabricating almost her entire resume to secure a job. Now, after just a month at her new position, her boss has called her to a meeting—with her resume in hand—and Katie is dreading what comes next. The cast, along with passionate callers, dissects the ethics, anxieties, and desperate job market realities at play.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Katie’s Situation Unveiled (00:52–06:44)
- Katie’s Admission: Katie reveals she lied extensively on her resume—claiming a bachelor’s degree in business when she really has an associate’s degree in accounting, inventing a fake company in Salt Lake City (as its ‘marketing director’), and making up freelance marketing experience.
- Quote: “Pretty much everything on it.” – Katie (02:08)
- Reference Faking: She also faked references to match her fabricated experience.
- Quote: “I just kind of, like, looked at my area code and Salt Lake City and just kind of, like, made up a number…” – Katie (05:18)
- Motivation: Katie justifies her actions by the desperation of a prolonged job search and feeling like she had “nothing to lose.” (05:40)
- Hosts’ Reaction: The show’s cast oscillates between curiosity, mild judgment, and comedic disbelief.
- Quote: “Could you point to Utah on a map?” – Radio Host (03:48)
2. Legal and Practical Fallout (06:44–07:50)
- HR Caller – Deb: A caller working in HR clarifies that, unless Katie lied on an official application form, resumes aren't legal documents. But, as Georgia (the job location) is an ‘at will’ state, she can be terminated for almost any reason.
- Quote: “Unless she lied on the actual application, a resume is not a legal document, and the employer would have no recourse.” – Deb (06:47)
- Katie Confesses Further: Under questioning, Katie admits she did also fabricate details on the application itself.
- Quote: “I said I had a bachelor’s degree. I can't. I'm sorry. Now, thinking back on it, it seems like such an idiotic idea…” – Katie (07:35)
3. Why Now? Hosts and Listeners Speculate (07:50–10:19)
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Performance Concerns: The cast and callers speculate that maybe her performance at work led HR to scrutinize her credentials.
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Advice Given: The show discusses whether Katie should immediately confess or remain silent and "absorb the punch" first, since she doesn't know the real reason for her meeting.
- Quote: “If I were you... absorb the punch first before I start confessing everything because it may be something totally different. Who knows?” – Radio Host (09:54)
4. Call-In Segment – Audience Response (08:12–13:18)
Mixed and Heated Responses:
- Callers express anger:
- Chris (08:14): "I do think she deserves what’s coming to her… she scammed this company and misrepresented her qualifications."
- Another caller (Chloe, 10:45):
- Vents frustration about doing "everything right" (working two jobs and going to school) yet struggling to get employment, feeling it’s unfair someone can skip the line by fabricating credentials.
- Amber (12:10):
- Shares her own struggle: “I paid $35,000 a year to go to school to get a business degree, and I’m a receptionist at a car dealership because I can’t find a job.”
- Hosts reflect: They note the recession and tough job market may be fueling the extra venom in these calls.
- Quote: “Because of the recession and everybody’s struggling... we’re getting more venomous calls than we would.” – Radio Host (12:47)
Some Sympathy & Dark Humor:
- Co-host attempts levity: “You stretch the truth or even make crap up so you can be employed. And I admire that.” – Caller 2 (13:02)
- Encouragement to own it: “Go out like Braveheart... you may get an advertising job out of it eventually.” – Caller 1 (13:23)
5. Katie’s Reflection & What Happens Next (10:19–13:41)
- Katie’s Dilemma: She’s tempted to continue the lie but is wrestling with whether there's any possibility of keeping her job.
- “Is there any way that they’re gonna let me stay on?” – Katie (10:40)
- Hosts’ Prognosis: They bluntly tell her the outcome is all but inevitable (“In a word. No.” – Radio Host, 10:40), but insist Katie report back after the meeting.
Memorable Quotes & Moments
- [02:08 | Katie]: “Pretty much everything on it.”
- [03:48 | Radio Host]: “Could you point to Utah on a map?”
- [06:47 | Deb]: “Unless she lied on the actual application, a resume is not a legal document, and the employer would have no recourse.”
- [07:35 | Katie]: “I said I had a bachelor’s degree. I can’t. I’m sorry. Now, now, thinking back on it, it seems like such an idiotic idea…”
- [10:40 | Radio Host]: “In a word. No. No, it’s probably not gonna happen.”
- [12:10 | Amber]: “I paid $35,000 a year to go to school to get a business degree, and I’m a receptionist at a car dealership because I can’t find a job.”
- [13:23 | Hosts]: “Go out like Braveheart...”
Important Timestamps
- 00:52 – 04:42 — Katie reveals her resume fabrications in detail.
- 06:44 – 07:50 — HR advice on the legal implications of resume lies.
- 08:12 – 13:02 — Emotional listener call-ins with strong opinions and real-life stories.
- 10:19 – 10:40 — Strategies on whether to confess or wait for the confrontation.
- 13:37 – 13:41 — Show promises to follow up with Katie after her meeting.
Tone & Takeaway
The conversation strikes a balance of humor, honesty, and biting criticism. The mood transitions from shock and banter among the hosts to outright anger and moral outrage from listeners. Katie is both vilified and pitied, exemplifying the difficult, often desperate job market. The show ends unresolved, with Katie bracing for the outcome and the cast promising a future update.
For listeners:
This episode is a candid look at job market desperation, ethical lines, and what happens when a little resume "embellishment" snowballs out of control. If you’ve ever wondered how workplaces, HR, and peers react to résumé lies, this is a can’t-miss conversation.