Dear jobseeker, how genuine are your referees?

Every day, William Schmidt gives job seekers with a not-so-great job history, a gap on their résumé or even a criminal record, a second chance.

How does he do it? He fabricates job references to cover up their sordid pasts.

Schmidt is the founder of CareerExcuse.com, a Web site that says it will fill any gap on your résumé by acting as your past employer.

It will go as far as creating a new company with an accompanying phone number, logo, Web site and LinkedIn profile.

He says the site is designed to “help our subscribers meet the needs of the modern day job market.”

“Many of our subscribers tell me how a bad reference from a previous employer is akin to having a criminal record and is preventing them from providing for their family. All they ask is for a second chance,” Schmidt says.

While Schmidt says he feels good about the service he provides for job seekers, naturally, not everyone shares his opinion.

After all, not only is it unethical to lie about anything on your job application, but some argue that it puts those who have legitimate references at an unfair disadvantage.

“It’s like using a professional photographer, who helps you look your best, versus using someone else’s photo. One is enhancing your appearance, while the other is blatant misrepresentation,” says David Wright, author of Get a Job! Your Guide to Making Successful Career Moves.

“People do make mistakes and bad choices. Winners learn from the mistakes while losers try to cover them up, hide them or keep making the same mistakes over and over while expecting different results.”

Is the economy to blame?

Many people can agree that finding a job today is difficult and that not having anyone in your corner to toot your horn could be detrimental.

Schmidt said he got the idea for his company after perusing posts on Twitter, where he said he saw many users asking strangers for references.

“We understand that there are over 12 million workers who have been fired or let go from former employers in the last eight years. With six applicants for every job today, anyone with a blemish in their career can be left out,” Schmidt says.

Lauren Milligan, résumé expert and job coach for ResuMayday, says that it’s sad that job seekers would think they had to fake their references, but that she can see how the poor economy could lead to making desperate choices.