Don't Be Desperate – Lying on Your Resume is a Bad Idea

There is a car wash not far from where I live with a marquee out front that reads, “We are not participating in the recession.”

I drive by frequently, but today, the sign made me stop and think. (Literally stop – it was a really long red light!)

Maybe it sounds silly, but can individuals deny the recession? Some would talk about the power of positive thinking and how it can impact our reality. I’m no economist, but I know that the stock market rises and falls on confidence levels and expectations. Can we wish ourselves
out of a recession?

Maybe not, but job seekers should control one factor – acting on desperation.

Desperate people do foolish things. We’ve all watched the movies where the main character, anxious to achieve some goal, takes paths that lead away from the target instead of toward it…Viewers feel like shouting at the screen – NO – STOP! Don’t do it! If you were a character in a movie, what would you say to yourself?

One mistake you never want to make is lying or embellishing your resume. The Wall Street Journal recently noted that “about 20% of job seekers and employees undergoing background checks exaggerate their educational backgrounds. In a 2004 survey of human-resource professionals, 61% said they “often” or “sometimes” find résumé inaccuracies when vetting prospective hires, according to the Society for Human Resource Management.”

You can imagine that finding a lie on your resume would be a deal breaker in a job hunt. Anita Bruzzese recently suggested a great list of facts that an employer can easily check. Here is her list of items you should review on your resume to be sure everything is on the up and up:

1. Schools. Make sure your dates are correct, as well as the major field of study, GPA, etc.

2. Honors. Everything from graduating at the top of your class to an industry award can be verified with a couple of phone calls by an employer.

3.  Job titles. While many former employers will only verify your dates of employment, it’s easy enough to use online resources to find people who used to work with you and can talk about your past work performance, titles, duties, etc.

4. Credit history. If you are applying for a position where you will have anything to do with money, chances are good your credit history may be reviewed. Be prepared to explain why it’s bad, if that’s the case, and what you’re doing to improve it.

5. Criminal history. Unless you’re applying for a government job, it won’t be required that you answer if you were charged with a crime. And, most employers are willing to even overlook some convictions if it was a youthful indiscretion or you got caught with one too many glasses of wine in your system. If you were convicted of a crimes that involve sex, drugs or theft, it’s going to be tougher. On the application, simply note that you would like to discuss the issue. Remember: It’s pretty simple to access court records concerning a conviction, so it’s better to come clean in person and try and explain it rather than lying outright.

6. Online. First, try and clean up your reputation with these tips. Second, get your story together on how you’ll explain anything that an employer digs up about you online. It’s better to show you’ve learned your lesson rather than trying to lie about something unflattering that is revealed on the Internet.

Another thing that raises a red flag? Many people do not write their LinkedIn profiles carefully. An employer who finds that your LinkedIn and resume have discrepencies may hesitate to contact you for an interview.

What would raise a red flag for you? Do you think that this job market will drive job seekers to desperate measures? Share your thoughts in the comments section!

Don’t wait until you are desperate! Keppie Careers will help get your job hunt on the right track.

photo by the hidaway

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