It's Just a Little Lie; They Won't Check!

The first chance you have to make an impression on a potential employer is with a compelling resume. Unfortunately, some job seekers find that the temptation to strengthen their resumes by stretching the truth is too much to resist. Nearly 60 percent of hiring managers say they have spotted resume lies, according to CBS News. Here is a closer look at this pervasive and ethically challenged practice.

People lie about various things on their resumes to make themselves appear smarter, more experienced or more qualified. Some of the most common resume lies center on education. Because employers are often looking for candidates with good academic credentials, some applicants try to make their college careers look a little stronger by fudging the facts. For example, a job candidate might embellish her grade point average, falsely claim she was in an honors program or state that she holds a graduate degree when she has only a bachelor's.

Another area that receives a lot of embellishment is work history. Because employers rarely like to see lengthy periods of unemployment on a resume, applicants may succumb to the impulse to falsify their dates of employment at a previous job or to exaggerate their job responsibilities at their previous employers.

It might seem a little absurd for people to lie about their technical skills. After all, if you lie about having a certain skill, an employer is bound to find out sooner or later – right? Yet, even though this type of falsehood seems pointless, resume lies involving technical skills are common.

One reason people use resume lies as a way to gain an advantage is that they think it's easy to fool an employer. Unfortunately for the resume fibber, this is not always true. In fact, getting away with little resume lies is now more difficult than ever due to the presence of the Internet. Sites like Facebook make it much easier to verify the details of a resume, and the rise of companies specializing in background checks is also increasing the odds that a false resume will be exposed. These investigation firms have skilled personnel who know how to dig deeply into anyone’s employment and education history.

The consequences of resume lies are often quite severe. If your falsehoods are discovered at the pre-employment stage, your chances of getting the job go right out the window. And even if you somehow manage to avoid detection at first, your lack of honesty may come out at a later date – for example, if a manager conducts a background check when you're up for a promotion.

Although it may be tempting to do so, lying on your resume is far too risky these days. To avoid any negative consequences from resume lies, stick to the facts when you apply for a job.

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