Lying on Your Resume: What Are the Consequences?
It is important to write your resume with character and confidence. But there is a clear-cut line where stretching goes too far.
Kim Isaacs | Monster.com Resume Expert
November 02, 2007
The Big Consequences of Little Lies
“The best lies will be those that mirror reality,” Levitt says. “My hunch is that the reputed 50 percent of resume cheaters are mostly making little cheats here and there, for instance, to cover up times when they were out of the labor force for six months.”
Perhaps viewing these mistruths as harmless white lies or marketing spin, people who lie on a resume may end up doing more damage – to themselves and others – than they realize.
“When someone else cheats, it hurts the honest people,” Levitt says. Honest job seekers can be edged out of competition by individuals who give themselves an unfair advantage by fabricating or exaggerating credentials.
And what about the damage cheaters do to themselves? “Even if you are never caught, you will have to live in constant fear that someday you will be caught and punished and with the guilt of knowing what you did was wrong,” Levitt warns.
Honest Strategies for Getting Ahead
No matter what the reason or justification for lying, if your resume isn’t entirely truthful, know this: You don’t have to resort to lying to win a job. There are ethical resume strategies you can use to address issues like job-hopping, time off from the workforce, minimal work experience, lack of or incomplete college degrees , being fired and having a criminal record.
Levitt’s research findings and the stories of job seekers who got caught lying on their resumes are cautionary tales to anyone in the workforce: You jeopardize your future when you lie about your past.
Sigrid
5 days ago
2 comments
well, they say no one really pays attention to what is written in your resume. you may praise yourself as you please, but during the interview with the employer everything will come clear as on a sunny day. interested in this I made some research and downloaded by torrent search engine real masterpieces of this genre. still I guess that didn't help their authors much applying for a job
LuLu123
8 months ago
2 comments
Currently I am a homemaker, temporary associate, praise dance team coordinator and women's group secretary. I've been out of the traditional workforce for the past 5 years and during that time a lot has happened especially with the companies I worked for. One has changed its name and no longer has any record of the 8 years I spend with them. The other has moved and has no record of the 5 years I worked for them. So, what do you do when what use to be verifiable employment is no longer available? My professional career has consisted of being a Data Entry Admin, Departmental Support, Customer Service Rep, Marketing Accounting Rep., Accounts Payable Clerk and Document Control Clerk. During my time away from the traditional workforce I have dedicated my time to helping start a church, doing volunteer work, assisting in my local church and various holiday projects. I enjoy working in a customer service environment providing assistance to my internal and external customers. I pride myself on the ability to take the skills learned in the corporate world and apply them to my volunteer work. My clerical skills have greatly helped in the recordkeeping process, organizational and administrative duties of the organizations I serve. Doing volunteer work has helped me to greatly sharpen my customer service and communications skills. So, what is a honest girl suppose to do when she has an interview and the past is unverifiable and the gap isn't what the interviewer wants to hear?
cheryl1
11 months ago
2 comments
Great article!!! I was just wandering about not graduating from high school, what to do on my resume. I am 57 years old and unemployed for the first time in my life. Do I really admit to not graduating? Would someone really check back that far?
Angeleka
about 1 year ago
6 comments
You tell em!
hunt4anarnia
about 1 year ago
10 comments
To all "do-gooders" comment on this story...Your sadly disilliusioned if you think for a second that in an interview or any portion of the process, an employer wants to hear the truth! They want to be confident that they are hiring employees who are close to perfect that makes their job easier....to continue lying to their employees!!! I've have yet to go on an interview and the have the employer tell me the truth when it comes to working for them. Personally, I have nothing to hide, but from experience I've witnessed how detrimental being completly honest on your resume get you - NOWHERE - FAST! Even if you had perfectly valid reasons, a few of mine where the following; 3 years caring for a mother diagnosed with early-onset alziehmer's & breast cancer at the same time. I had to leave college to become her full-time caregiver which also resulted in the adoption of my two youngest brothers. I also have Type I diabetes which requires me to maintain a full-time position with benefits to survive and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Currently, I'm pregnant on the job and my employers treat me like a leper, ever since I shared with them the details of my pregnancy they've been rude and indifferent twoards me. So now you tell me....I have more than enough challenges to go up against and I will do whatever it takes to in an interview to win a job. The truth is hard for some folks to swalllow.
rjmchugh
about 1 year ago
2 comments
That does not sound encouraging, Erin. I had a baby in March 2007 and seven weeks after she was born, my husband was diagnosed with colon (pre)cancer. I had to spend the rest of the year, and part of this year, caring not just for a baby but also for him. I'm only now able to work again. I managed to pass my cerfication exam with flying colors back in August 2007 even with all of this personal chaos, and I hope to get my foot into the door somewhere.
ErinMitchell
about 1 year ago
2 comments
Does anyone have advice on gaps in employment. I had a baby in May of 2007 and graduated from college in December of 2006. I did have a sales career before I decided to finish my degree. I have been looking since January and I feel like employers are not liking my gap in employment. I don't feel like I can tell them that I had a baby. It seems like employers are very turned off by that. I would like to tell a prospective employer the truth but a professional resume writer told me not to. Any advice??
jeepgirl89
about 1 year ago
114 comments
I don't understand lying on a resume, if you want the job, then just go through the process of obtaining the necessary requirements and some extra bonuses that make you the great catch. Lying isn't the way to go when your professional career is on the line.
lolawriter
about 1 year ago
50 comments
Mary, by the way, was the head of admissions at MIT.
Account Removed
about 1 year ago
No lie is ever left uncovered.
dianabutterfly
about 1 year ago
20 comments
I disagree. Some people have changed their names and their past is true under another name(s). Giving out an old name on a resume or an application could jeopardize getting hired due to unfair equality issues that yet need to be resolved in the united states. However I do agree with out right lying on your resume that could put you in a very bad position.