| When you read classified ad in newspaper about a | | | | Can you imagine the embarrassment when your |
| job post, there could be three possible courses of | | | | beans are spilled in front of your boss? You have |
| action which you can take. | | | | been lying all along to keep this job but they find out |
| Action #1: You know you don’t qualify for the | | | | the truth and you are fired. Thus getting caught can |
| job and choose not to apply to it. So, you move on | | | | cost you your job — even after being hired. |
| to the next job posting. | | | | Picture this. Now after losing job you start job |
| Action #2: Although you don’t qualify for the job | | | | hunting once again. You decide this time you will be |
| yet you think you can do it but you don’t want | | | | truthful through and through. But how will you put |
| to tell the employer about it. Hence you go on lying | | | | your last job in the résumé? Should you list it? |
| on your résumé to make it look like that you | | | | Should you lie again? After a good thought you |
| are aptly qualified for the job. | | | | decide to list it. In the interview you are asked to |
| Action #3: You know you don’t qualify for the | | | | state the reason for leaving the previous job…uh |
| job yet you would like to give it a try as you are | | | | ho…there you go again. You are again in dilemma. If |
| sure that you can learn the required skills and pick up | | | | you say the truth you may lose the job opportunity. |
| the job very well. Hence you send them your | | | | If you lie and get the job your employer may again |
| résumé along with a cover letter mentioning | | | | find out and send you packing. End of job. End of |
| that though you don’t qualify for the job yet | | | | story. |
| you are willing to learn and acquire the required skills. | | | | Hence lying once will make you lie again and |
| Needless to say, third action is the wisest of all — | | | | eventually may ruin your career. It could be worse |
| apply without endangering your reputation. Worst can | | | | too. Employers can press charges against you for |
| happen that you may get rejected and the best can | | | | lying and deceiving them. |
| be the employer notices your potentials and hires | | | | Résumé Fraud is a Crime |
| you. | | | | Is lying on résumé a crime? Certainly, it is. |
| With the first action you may be missing a great | | | | It’s a felony. |
| opportunity. Second action will make you a liar and | | | | Lying on your résumé is not only immoral, it |
| lying on your résumé is never a good idea. | | | | could get you fired or even sued. Employers can |
| Moreover lying is like eating potato chips — you | | | | terminate employment and reduce or deny all |
| can’t stop with just one, e.g. if you get the job | | | | benefits as a punishment for lying. Lying about your |
| based on your lies, you have to keep on lying to | | | | credentials and intentionally misleading an employer is |
| your employer, coworkers and clients on daily basis | | | | illegal and can put you behind the bars, even if the lie |
| to cover up your initial lies. | | | | was told a decade ago. Hence lying can cost you |
| According to a survey conducted by Monster, 50% | | | | your job as well as your freedom. Your résumé |
| people lie on their résumé. According to surveys | | | | is about selling your skills and not lying about them. |
| conducted by other sites, most of the time | | | | There’s a thin line between selling and lying, |
| jobseekers lie on their education. They put degrees | | | | make sure you don’t cross it. |
| which they did not finish, add fake degrees and | | | | Honesty is the Best Policy |
| mention college names which they did not attend. | | | | The best strategy to create an honorable |
| Apart from education, other common topics which | | | | résumé is to never lie. Be truthful about your |
| the jobseekers lie about are: | | | | educational and professional background. Figure out a |
| - Dates – Stretching employment dates to cover | | | | way to tell the truth and make yourself look good. |
| up employment gaps | | | | Make your previous experiences sound pro-active to |
| - Job titles – Enhancing job titles | | | | indicate your skills and achievements. Talk what you |
| - Responsibilities and achievements – Embellishing | | | | are most proud of. Being truthful on résumé will |
| job duties and achievements | | | | have two benefits: |
| - Employer names – Inventing employers | | | | - Your résumé will sound like your |
| - Compensation – Increasing remuneration | | | | accomplishments in your career without any |
| - Reason for leaving – Lying on this to cover up | | | | inconsistencies |
| termination or layoff | | | | - Your interview will be great because you will be at |
| Sometimes jobseekers lie about their team size and | | | | ease as you have nothing to hide thus your energy |
| mention that they had been heading that team, | | | | will be good. |
| where as in reality they may have been a member | | | | An honest and well-written résumé will help you |
| of the team which was not as big as they claim. | | | | secure jobs even if you have less than perfect |
| Background Check | | | | background. Just write a cover letter to address your |
| People assume that they can easily get away with | | | | worries. |
| their lies as the companies will not check it. However, | | | | At times you may feel like inflating your |
| with the increase in fraudulent activities, more and | | | | achievements or embellish your résumé to make |
| more companies are running background checks. | | | | it look more attractive. You can lie but do it at your |
| During these checks and screenings, lies are | | | | own peril, because if you get caught then you are |
| discovered. Incongruities in employment dates, salary | | | | responsible for those consequences. |
| manipulation, job titles and duties and omission of | | | | Moreover, no one is perfect in this imperfect world. |
| negative records may get revealed during these | | | | There are very few people whose past are |
| checks. | | | | blemish-free or have the perfect career history. |
| If you think there is nothing wrong in lying about an | | | | Instead of covering your blemishes, face them. Once |
| employer who is not in business anymore then think | | | | you land in a job, you will have enough challenges and |
| again. Through various network and other sources | | | | worries. So don’t increase your worries by lying, |
| people can easily find out about others. | | | | instead be honest. Don’t take short cuts to |
| Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire | | | | success; take the higher road. |