Lying On Your Resumes
Posted in Resume Basics
The resume is one of the most important things in any job search. It does not only speak about you, but it also markets you. From your backgrounds up to your skills, you are selling yourself to the hiring managers who are going to check your resumes.
Examples of outrageousness
Representing ourselves sometimes it becomes a tall tale of information. We embellish our resumes with false information just to impress hiring managers. Here are just some of the most outrageous claims applicants have cited in their resumes: claimed to be a Kennedy kin, invented a school that never existed, and submitted a resume with someone else's photo in it.
One applicant claimed to worked-but never did-with the hiring manager before, one claimed to be the CEO in a company before but was only an hourly employee, and another claimed to have military experience dating back before his birth. A candidate also brought samples of work which turned out to be the interviewer's and one claimed to have been a member of a professional football team
Statistics
Many people have claimed making false information in their resumes: 38% claimed embellishing their job responsibilities, 18% have lied about their skill set, 12% have lied about start and end dates of employment, 10% lied about having an academic degree, 7% lied about the companies they have worked for, and 5% have lied about their job title. In many cases, these lies never worked. Yet some passed because their resumes have been overlooked.
Helpful tips without resume embellishments
Here are some of the things you can do to improve your resume without embellishing it with lies.
Be the first in line. If a company has let out ads saying they are in search of newly hires, then be the first in line. Sign up for email alerts so you are always updated. It always pays when you are always at the frontlines.
Use keywords on your resume. If you have submitted an electronic resume, always put the right keywords in it. Companies are using applicant tracking systems nowadays, so make use of this opportunity. Some examples are "oral and written communication", "leadership", "project management", "bilingual", and "customer service".
Stand out. About 43% of hiring managers spend only a minute-sometimes even less-in looking at resumes. So do your best in writing your resume since it will serve as your window to a better opportunity.
Honesty is the best policy. Explain the employment gaps in your resume. Always highlight what you have accomplished and if you did some volunteer work, mention it as well. If you were not able to get a degree, tell the truth. Also, include part-time jobs and freelance work as well.
