Is It Ever OK to Lie on your Resume?
The obvious answer to the question is NO! Do not ever lie on your resume. Why? Well, lets explore. It is unethical! One of the key attributes that an employer looks for in a potential candidate is honesty. Can I trust this individual in this position? Will they do their best for our (my) company? No matter how long you work in a position and not matter how well you have done, if at a latter date, the employer finds out that you lied to them on your resume, the trust is gone and cannot be repaired. It can be dangerous! Because of you lie, you may be put into a position that simply you are not qualified for. You can put yourself and others at risk. Not only physically but financially as well. It stays with you! Once you lie on a resume, you cannot ever use your experience at that company as a reference. Now when applying for another job, you have a gap that needs to be explained. In other words, it will always stay with you. There are two key areas where people lie on their resumes. The first is education. It is easy to say that you attended 'Some College' between certain dates. Who will know? How will the employer find out if I didn't? It is called a background check. Many if not most employers are doing this now a days. Your lie(s) will catch up to you. The second is about gaps in your work experiences. So what do you do if you have educational weaknesses? The answer is you highlight your educational strengths. For example, if you did not complete a degree but you took course that are related to the position you are applying for, highlight the individual courses as your strength. If you are applying for a job in accounting and you did not finish your degree but you took 7 accounting course, list each individual course along with your corresponding grade. What do you do if you have employment gaps? You explain them and be honest about them. Explain them in the most positive light as you can. The place in my opinion to explain any educational weaknesses or employment gaps is in your cover letter. Be concise and brief. Think about it. You are honest about any short comings you may have in your resume and cover letter and you still get an interview. You can now go into that interview with confidence and not stress. Hope this helps? www.disABLEDperson.com www.JOFDAV.com