Have you ever lied to gain access to a new positions that you otherwise could not have landed? If so, you are among a group of millions of other Americans who have executed a similar strategy. But lying or embellishing can come back to haunt you.
Lying on a Resume Is Detrimental
Lying About Past Employers
This is a very common means of embellishment on a job seeker’s resume. Often times human resources won’t dive too deep into an employee’s past, but it can certainly come back to haunt you later in your career. Being honest might make your resume look less competitive, but if you land the job it’s all about performance and the value you bring to your organization. If you lie about where you worked or who you worked for, it will eventually come to fruition. At this point it’s too late. You’ll be looking for a new career in no time.
Educational Embellishment
A common theme for many jobseekers is to embellish educational background. But lying about education is a terrible idea. You might see a short term benefit, but eventually it will catch up with you. And when it does, it will prevent you from starting a meaningful career. When future employers check your past work experience they will contact that employer, and they will have no choice but to tell the honest truth. This can even include lying about smaller things like GPA. If educational requirements are a consistent problem and you can’t seem to find the right job because of it, just accept a lower level job. Prove to your company that you area a valuable contributor as you build your career. Lying about your education is a bad idea, and if you get caught, it can derail your career potential. GPA holding you back? Repeat some classes and bring up your grades. There are certainly options.
Lying About Work Experience
There is a difference between pure embellishment and optimization. We are huge proponent of resume optimization, but jobseekers need to be careful where that line is drawn. Don’t lie about your job title or past job responsibilities, because human resources will find out. They search for inconsistencies in public profiles and private resumes, and any differences can send off a big red flag. The alternative? Be honest and continue to build your credentials. Get more work experience and ascend to that role you’ve always dreamed about working in. There is no fast track to success—you need to work for the things you want.
If you‘re having trouble finding the job you want, you might need to backtrack. Figure out the reason and work to correct it. Is education holding you back? Is so, go back to school and finish your degree? Can’t meet the requirements on a job application? Take an entry level job and work your way up. With a little hard work and determination, good things will start to happen. You just need to get on the right path.
Matthew Welch
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