Lying on a resume is simply not wise. So we're going to tell you how to avoid lying on a resume.
Let's deal with all the areas in a resume where people find the potential to stretch the truth a little.
One of the less talked-about disadvantages of lying on a resume is the high expectations that come with it. When you say you know something you don’t, or that you’ve done something you’ve not, you’re in trouble, even if you don’t actually get caught (which isn’t very probable, to remind you!)
The Truth: Responsibilities include
As you can see, you don't really need to lie. All you need is some clever wording in your resume, and your honest resume is ready to impress!
Let's deal with all the areas in a resume where people find the potential to stretch the truth a little.
Claiming to know a skill you don’t.
Just because you’ve watched a colleague work on Java apps for a week, it doesn’t make you qualified to work on it. If the job requirement asks for something you have a peripheral knowledge of, then don’t mention it. If it is something you have working knowledge of, or have been trained in, but haven’t actually done any projects on it, then say so.
Situation: You were trained in Data Warehousing, and learned Informatica and Abinitio ETL tools. When allotted a project, you worked only with Informatica. Now you are applying for a very good position that needs people familiar with Abinitio tools.
The lie: “Worked in project X in which Abinitio tools were used extensively."
The truth: “Extensive experience with data warehousing, well-versed with Informatica tools.
In the cover letter, you could say, “I took a month-long training on Abinitio and Informatica. Though I do not have as extensive an experience with Abinitio tools, as I do with Informatica, I have a fair knowledge about its basics, and I am confident that given the opportunity, I can pick it up in no time at all.”
If your resume lacks an important skill, which you find is setting you back in your job-hunt, it pays to enroll in a course that teaches you the skill you are lacking, and put it on your resume, so that the recruiter knows you’ve taken a step towards your goal.
Lying about job responsibilities:
The key to this is to be specific about what you actually did, rather than say anything about what you did not do.
Suppose you have been a Software Tester, but have never worked in development, and are applying for a software developer’s job:
The Lie: Responsibilities include Software Development and Testing.
The Truth: Responsibilities include
- Extensive testing of software and bug detection.
- Discussion with developers on possible modifications in the code.
- Code review
- Software quality control
With this, you’ve established that you’re familiar with coding. You can also add in the skills section about any software you’ve developed personally, or any previous software development experience in any other language, so that they know that you have coding experience.
If “I worked as an office receptionist” sounds too dull, and you are tempted to boost it, desist.
The Lie: Office administration.
The Truth: Worked as a receptionist –
- Handled important calls efficiently in a very busy office.
- Coordinated critical information exchange between various departments.
- Developed a simple filing system that increased office efficiency by 20 %.
- Made optimum use of computers to streamline information.
- Effectively multi-tasked.
Lying about job titles
You might be tempted to put in a job title or role that was greater than your actual role. It is very easy for a prospective employer to check back and find that you're fibbing.
Situation: You’ve been an Office Associate and are applying for an Administrative personnel position since you had taken on some admin responsibilities in your previous position.
The Lie: Job Title: Office and Administrative Personnel
The Truth: Job Title: Office Associate (with additional Administrative responsibilities.)
List all your actual tasks. In the cover letter, explain the circumstances that led to your taking up these extra activities, and how you took an increasingly greater role in it.
This way, you are not lying about your actual job title, but are also specifying what extra work you undertook.
Lying about educational qualifications.
If you haven’t completed a degree for whatever reason, don’t put it under educational qualifications.
But no education goes to waste. So under a section that can be termed as Additional skills or qualifications, list the relevant subjects you studied in the short time you spent in that course.
This doesn’t hold good for any study/course you are taking at the time of applying for the job. In such a situation, you must name it under educational qualifications and indicate that you are still pursuing it.
e.g. MBA(part-time) from X university (pursuing/results awaited)
Listing a skill that you had used a very long time ago.
If you’ve had a very long career, and you had used a particular skill fifteen years ago, do not list it if you cannot remember how things are done with it.
Lying about employment dates
Employment dates are almost always fudged to cover up gaps. But since you can be easily found out, it makes sense not to do so. Use the cover letter to explain the gaps. You needn’t have been gainfully employed in that time, and so listing volunteering activities, or mentioning that you had been picking up skills relevant to your job, will be good enough.
Lying about numbers
Inflating numbers is probably the easiest way to jazz up your resume. But it is best to stick with the truth, because prospective employers are great at smelling a rat when you overstate your achievements.
For instance:
The Lie: Solely responsible for capturing $10 Mn of new institutional business
The Truth: Developed $2 Mn of new institutional business in 2010, with confirmed repeat orders for $8 Mn over the next 3 years. But of course, you'd better be prepared to justify your statements if you're asked about it in the interview!
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