Executives with scandal-tainted companies on their résumés pay a penalty
on the job market, even if they clearly had nothing to do with the
trouble. Because the scandal effect is lasting, a company you left long
ago could have an impact on your current and future job mobility, not to
mention your compensation. Overall, executives who suffer from the
effect are paid nearly 4% less than their peers. You can’t control this
risk, the authors write, but you can and should plan for it. They offer
three steps to help you survive a corporate scandal. 1. Be forthright.
Transparency and full disclosure are key to overcoming the stigma.
Executive recruiters, who do due diligence on candidates, can help you
create a full, clear, and succinct narrative for hiring managers. 2.
“Borrow” reputation and legitimacy from others in your network,
establishing innocence by association. Executive search firms can also
act as references and sponsors. 3. Take a “rehab job,” one at which you
so clearly excel that it creates a persuasive story to compete with the
scandal narrative. INSETS: Joining a "Scandal Firm";About the Research.