Lying on resume is the easiest effort any job applicant can make to stand out from the pack, but the biggest to handle. In the real sense, we simply stretch the truth a bit to make it mild and inflate our chances without really acknowledging we are lying on resume. Regardless of how mild the exaggeration on your resume is, the result can cause a damage you would rarely be able to repair when you lie on your resume.
With a little experience and picture of lying on the resume legal consequences, you may want to ask: should I lie on my resume? While the answer is a capital NO, there are common white lies you must take note of. Enhancing the quality of your resume may involve including some resume action words but you cannot go beyond reality doing so. Your ultimate goal is to remain completely honest presenting yourself in the best light.
To be sure that you are not including fiction, consider spotting and removing these five common white lies from your resume.
1. Modifying your job title
Hiring managers are now aware that most candidates would prefer to inflate their job titles. For instance, stating “associate” position when you actually served as an assistant. Even if you discharging associate-level duties, do not change your title or present yourself as what best describes your position in your own perspective. Always maintain the job title issued by the employer while building work experience on your resume.
2. Listing an unfinished college degree
Avoid listing or including a college degree without graduation dates or state that the program is completed when you have not. If you are still running the degree program and taking a break, clarify this on your resume and provide the expected date of graduation. If you have taken courses on a degree you plan not to finish, simply state the courses and avoid mentioning the degree.
3. Exaggerating results
While mentioning your past achievements and the quality of results should not be omitted in on your resume, don’t mention that you grew sales by 100%, except if the numbers are important. You will be overstating your results using percentages or words like “doubled” or “tripled,” use more concrete numbers instead, to avoid lying on your resume.
4. Stating that you spearheaded a project when you didn’t
It is very common among job applicants – inflating their role in a project by making it seem like they spearheaded a project they didn’t. It’s another mistake to escape from even if you assigned certain assignments or oversaw junior employees; don’t say you managed if you didn’t spearhead the project. Aside from other dangers and potential damages, more hiring managers know exactly how to spot lies in a resume.
5. Adjusting the dates of your employment
Elongating the dates they held good positions have become common among job seekers. And hiring managers are always looking out for such. Holding the position for just one day may have qualified you for the job but elongating it would destroy your integrity. What if the employer decides to run a background check or ask for a letter of employment? There are other easy ways to know when you lie on your resume.
Regardless of how mild your exaggerations are or seem, it is easy for hiring managers to notice inconsistencies when you lie on your resume, and this puts your chances of making it to the next level into jeopardy.