Never lie on your resumé
Undoubtedly, we all have reasons to embellish the truth just a little. No harm, no foul, we think. But what happens when those little white lies migrate from you bragging to strangers at the gym about your accomplishments, to full-blown lying on your résumé? Indeed, we can all understand your zealousness to find a job, and with the job market so highly competitive, there is increasing pressure to find inventive ways to capture the attention of the individuals who screen applicants. They are the gatekeepers and in your mind, the ones who are keeping you from that dream job or a weekly salary. The old adages "If I can just get my foot in the door..." or "If I can just get an interview..." still exist. Maybe more so today than ever, which in turn compels us to wonder how we can legitimately augment our skill sets. And the key word here is legitimately, as lying is never a good idea on a résumé.
One of the biggest reasons why it is not a good idea to lie on your résumé is that information can be checked and verified very easily. While it is true that many employers nowadays never bother to check credentials, the fact remains that it is a huge gamble to lie and then wonder about the odds of being caught. Not only are you not going to get the job for which you applied, but at the same time, you run the risk of ruining your reputation. The world is a small place and people talk. The same types of employees go to the same conferences and trade shows. All it takes is a simple comment for one person to realize that they have information about you that the other might want. Remember that people enjoy making themselves look good by providing information that no-one else has. So, when you are thinking about lying on your résumé, ponder long and hard, because it might not be a lie that stays in one place.
Another major reason why lying is never a good idea on a résumé is the fact that you are most probably not qualified to do the job in question. Think about this for a minute. If you were qualified and could secure that job on the basis of your own merit, you would not have to lie. You would have the experience and/or education to support your claims. Now, you might fool the interviewer into recommending your hire, and you might even fool the powers-that-be to actually hire you, but, how long is it going to take before everyone realizes that you cannot do the job? How are going to explain to your superiors that your work is shoddy, that you are in fact, incompetent? Lying to get your foot in the door might sound like a great idea, but if you cannot satisfactorily complete the required duties of the position, then you are most likely going to be fired. Next, you have that issue with which to contend. Will you report that on your new résumé, or just leave a gap in history?
Moreover, an area many job applicants have not even considered is the internet. Today, employers do not have to call universities or other employers to verify information. Sometimes, all they need to do is go to any one of the many social networks and find out who you are and what you have been doing. The internet is still new and job applicants are not fully cognizant of the possible damage inherent in talking openly to the world. Questions will arise if your résumé states one thing and your profiles and ramblings demonstrate another. True, you have a right to say whatever you like on the internet, but today, you must remember that often your résumé and your profiles go hand in hand. And, if you have a notion to brag about lying to get a job, how fast do you think the employer will fire you when she/he reads your taunts on the internet?
Further, today, many sites exist that have "cached" information. This means that data from websites all over the world has been tracked and stored to be read at any time. So, even if you have never spoken or written a word on the internet, you are still at risk when you lie on your résumé. Let us explain that concept in detail.
You write on your résumé that you were the VP of Finance for ABC Corporation. As many employers do not verify information (and they might think who would lie about such a senior position?), you figure you have nothing to worry about since the company has since closed and what is the screener going to check anyway? Well, all that person has to do is go to one of the websites that store old data, pull up the website, and find out who held the VP position. Quickly, potential employers will know that you have lied because someone else's name will be listed.
Admittedly, there are occasions when you must put some sort of spin on an event. For example, you were fired from a job and left on good enough terms that the employer agreed to provide a reference so that your future job search will not be hampered. It is possible that rightfully so, you were not suitable for the job. This does not imply anything negative about your abilities. It means that someone else is better suited to that position. Thus, you want to mention what happened, but at the same time, you do not want the potential employer to wonder what really happened and to infer connotations that never existed. In this scenario, it is very easy to justify lying in order to spin the story into a positive, especially if you need that experience to count. But, again, we would recommend that rather than lying, you downplay the event. Emphasize your skills on your résumé, rather than that specific timeline.
Moreover, lying is contagious. Once you do it the first time, and it appears that there were no negative repercussions, it is much easier to do the second time, and easier again, the third time. Then you continue lying until you are no longer sure what is truth and what is a lie. You begin this maze of trying to remember what you said. You are continually on your guard, which makes for a very frantic existence. Not to mention, that people will notice when you slip up.
Finally, we do sympathize with the job applicant's frustration and consternation, and we can understand the temptation to lie. But, as you can clearly see, we believe there are many reasons why lying is never a good idea on a résumé. The fallout is rarely positive, and in fact, irreparable damage is done in most cases.