It Doesn't Pay to Lie on Your Resume

If you are refreshing your resume for a job search, be very careful when describing your skills and achievements. It is natural to want to make a good impression, but lying on your resume is unethical. Resume lies are usually easy to discover, so they can also come back to haunt you months or years later. If you need to write a resume, avoid telling half-truths or outright fabrications.

The way hiring managers tell it, resume lies are not all that uncommon. Applicants make up stories about their college degrees, employment histories and qualifications. CareerBuilder surveyed more than 2,500 hiring managers and HR professionals to determine some of the biggest blunders made by applicants. One applicant claimed to attend an educational institution that did not exist. Another applicant said he had 10 years of driving experience, but he only had a driver's license for four years.

Fifty-six percent of the hiring managers surveyed said they have uncovered resume lies when reviewing applications. Some candidates embellish their qualifications, while others lie about past job titles and responsibilities. Lying about degrees completed and educational institutions attended also seems to be fairly common. These resume lies may be enough to get an applicant in the door for an interview, but hiring managers are smart. They are bound to notice something is amiss when a candidate has trouble answering basic questions about past jobs.

Telling resumes lies does not necessarily make you a bad person, but it does reflect poorly on you. Many people make up resume lies because they are desperate for work or truly believe they are the best fit for a particular job. Unfortunately, most resume lies are easy to spot, and hiring managers are quick to eliminate you from consideration if they uncover any falsehoods in your resume or cover letter. If you want to attract attention, put some effort into making your skills and knowledge sound appealing to potential employers.

There are several things you can do to polish your resume without telling any resume lies. First, customize each resume for a particular industry or employer. Customizing your resume allows you to highlight the most relevant qualifications to each position. If you maintain a professional blog, include a link in your resume or cover letter. Blogging is a great way to demonstrate your knowledge of a particular industry. Finally, include a cover letter with each resume you send. A customized cover letter is ideal for making your qualifications stand out to hiring managers.

The job search is hard enough without having to worry about being caught in a lie. Instead of making up resume lies, take time to customize your resume appropriately. If you highlight your qualifications without embellishing them, employers are more likely to take notice.

Photo courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net