Lying on a resume is
unfortunately a temptation for many job candidates. The simple rule to follow is to never lie on your resume,
honesty is always best. If you do
lie, you will eventually be discovered.
Once an employer discovers a lie, it immediately destroys your
credibility. Why take that chance? Let’s take a quick look at some of the most
common resume lies and why it’s best to avoid them:
- Lying about your degree and/or what school you
attended. If you’re thinking
about lying about this simple little fact, just say no. Employers can easily discover what
school you went to and what your major was, as well as your grade point
average. If you are
discovered to be a liar on something this small you can forget about any
chance of ever working with that employer now or in the future.
- Inflating your job title or responsibilities.
This is very tempting, especially for those who have the knowledge but not
enough experience to back it up.
While we all want to move to the next level in our careers it is
best to avoid inflating your previous experience to move up. Instead, relate your real
experience to the current needs of the employer. Keep it honest.
- Inflating your previous salary is very common lie
that can be easily discovered.
If you want to move up the salary ladder and your previous salary
doesn’t reflect your true worth don’t lie about it. Take the time to prove to the
current employer in your resume, cover letter and interview, why you are
worth more.