I have been reached several times for Who's-Who type listings. I signed up only once, but I didn't order the expensive listing book. The contact got pissed.
I will echo plasgears comment. All of the who's-who directories that I've dealt with have been for-pay. I personally consider them to be a scam, and if I saw it on a resume I would actually take it negatively.
I do agree that many of the who's who types of publications are scams. However, I have utilized Marquis Who's Who and crossed referenced it with another directory to locate expert witnesses for a case I was involved with.
In academia it is common to list Who's Who on one's CV, especially when applying from grants. However in industry? I guess it all depends on who your audience is.
I used to be on their mailing list and never paid. I supervised about 50 engineers in those days. I did not feel worthy of such "fame". If you are published like Greg Shinsky; or just want something interesting added to the resume' go ahead and do it. Nobody buys it anyway unless they pay to get listed, right?
I agree. I had an invitation as a new grad several years ago and got all excited thinking I was going to be a hot shot. After they told me I should buy the book (and whatever else they ask for) my hopes of reaching fame quickly, evaporated as I realized it was really not anything to get excited about. I believe they are simply out to make a buck at our expense, knowing that engineers generaly have big egos.
You might get more mileage out of publishing a "vanity book." With the available modern printing technology, it's pretty inexpensive and who knows, you might actually sell a few.
If you put it on your resume, then it shows that you are not very knowledgeable because purchased honors are worthless. If you don't put on your resume, then you acknowledge that you wasted your money buying the credential.
Rich:
Since you already spent the money, take the book and offer it to your parents. For shure they will enjoy to see their little boy in Who's Who book.
Just kidding.
Seriously, being a paid honor, it is kind of worthless in industry.
Dont feel bad. We have all experienced the same thing. Those that were exposed young in their career probably jumped all over it and those that were around a while probably understood what it was all about. Just chalk it up as a learning experience and use the book to brag to your non-engineering friends as they won't know the difference. Good luck to you.
