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Lying on Your Resume
You read the help wanted ad and the job seems perfect for you. You seem perfect for it too. You've got all the qualifications they're asking for. Oh wait. What does that say? Hmmm. They want someone who has experience with that. "Well, I can do that," you think to yourself. "I just haven't done it before. But, I'm sure I can learn."
Most of us have had thoughts like this float through our minds. However, each of us may choose a different course of action. Let's take a few examples:
Job Searcher #1 says: "Oh well. I guess I don't qualify for this job." He or she moves onto the next help wanted ad.
Job Searcher #2 says: "O.K., so I don't have the experience they're asking for. I can just make something up. After all the last company I worked for isn't in business anymore. This new one will never find out what I did or didn't do there." Job Searcher #2 is just a few keystrokes away from adding fictional responsibilities to his or her resume.
Job Searcher #3 says: "It's obvious I don't have the experience they want but I do know I can easily pick up the skills I need to do the job. The only thing I can do is take a chance and apply for the job anyway. I'll use my cover letter to explain that I don't have the required skills but I am willing to do whatever is necessary to acquire them. I'll explain that I do have related skills. What have I got to lose anyway?"
Job Searcher #3, as you may have already guessed, has made the wisest choice. Job Searcher #1 may be missing a great opportunity. Even though he lacks the necessary skills, he may have related skills. He should assess those skills, even listing what they are and how he acquired them. He can then write a cover letter that shows his potential, as Job Searcher #3 did. The worst that can happen is that his resume will end up in that big circular file. The best that can happen is that the prospective employer will see the potential in this applicant and decide that experience isn't as important as initiative.
Who's the loser? Job Searcher #2 of course. Liar, liar pants on fire. Lying is never a good idea. You may feel it's not morally wrong to lie, and perhaps a little white lie isn't thatbad. However, calling in sick is a little different than making believe you're someone you're not. Lies have a way of snowballing. It's kind of like eating potato chips — you can't stop with just one.
Let's say you go ahead and decide to lie on your resume. It's a little white lie. You're not lying about having a particular job. You worked at the company, you just didn't have all the responsibilities you said you did. So, you think, "it's no big deal." Or is it?
The employer gets your resume and likes what she sees. She calls you in for an interview where you must discuss your experience. Now you must continue to lie. Then let's say you get hired. Uh-oh — more lies. Not to mention the fact that on the interview you'll have to be able to adequately discuss something with which you may not be all that familiar. Then you will have to demonstrate familiarity on the job. Now you're lying to your boss and your co-workers, and possibly your clients. Like I said — potato chips. You can't stop with just one.
Getting Caught
We haven't even taken into account the most obvious reason for not lying -- getting caught. Most employers will check your references and then you will likely be found out. You may be thinking you have nothing to worry about if the employer is no longer in business. Think again.
I always marvel at what a small world it is. This is especially true within industries and professional communities. People network and names are mentioned. You never know who your boss knows or who he will meet. Imagine the embarrassment of being called into your boss's office, having him look you in the eye and say in a serious voice "I know." Wouldn't you want to be swallowed up by a big hole in the floor?
You may not even need anyone else to reveal your lie. You can do yourself in by not being able to demonstrate the necessary skills when you need to. Your lie will be revealed or your boss will just think you're incompetent. Either way, you may be looking for work again (hopefully a little more honestly this time around). But is getting fired all you have to look forward to? I think not. Let's see what the other ramifications are.
So you lost your job. Easy come, easy go. You'll find another one. Or will you? By lying on your resume, you may have set into motion a series of events that will follow you for many years.
Let's say your boss finds out you lied and sends you packing. You need a job, so you start searching for the next one. You learned your lesson and vow never to lie again. You redo your resume. Oh wait. What about the job from which you just got fired? Should you list it? Isn't leaving it off lying? So again, you're faced with the question, should you lie on your resume? Leave off the job, and you may be faced with the problem of explaining what you were doing during the time you were working for your former employer. That could be a significant amount of time depending on how long they bought your lie.
So, you decide to include the job on your resume. You get called in for an interview. During the course of the interview, the prospective employer asks you why you left your previous job. Uh-oh. Here you go again. Should you tell the truth and give up any hope of getting hired? Should you lie... again?
You decide to lie again. You say you left the job because you realized it wasn't right for you. You leave hoping they won't check your references. Or that your previous employer won't say anything. However, when the prospective employer calls your previous employer, he finds out you were fired and that you lied to get the job. End of job. End of story.
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