Lying On Your Resume Will Get You Fired

Nancy Anderson
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Embellishing your resume with a few white lies in order to get ahead may seem like a harmless thing to do, but it can lead to big consequences. In fact, CareerBuilder recently surveyed hiring professionals and found that lying is considered one of the worst mistakes a job seeker can make. Here are just a few reasons why lying on your resume is a terrible idea.

Unnecessary Stress

Lying on your resume only causes you more stress. Right from the beginning, you have to keep track of what you say, which can become overwhelming after a while. You also have to deal with the guilty feeling that comes along with being dishonest. Dealing with this kind of stress day after day can take a toll on your emotional well-being as well as your attitude and performance at work.

Background Checks

Employers can fact-check all of the information on your resume. Prepare for hiring managers to ask for documents that back up your resume, such as transcripts, certificates or degrees. Even if they don't ask for paperwork, they are likely to call and speak to former employers to verify employment dates or skills learned. Even a simple internet search can sometimes be all a recruiter needs in order to verify the claims you made. These says, it's easy for hiring managers to find out you lied, so your safest bet is to be honest.

False Qualifications

Let's say your resume, padded with lies, still manages to get you through the hiring process and into the position of your dreams. Don't pat yourself on the back just yet. If you bent the truth about having qualifications that are essential for the job, you may find yourself in over your head. When your new employer notices that you're struggling to hit the ground running, your dishonesty may become evident. Lying wastes the employer's time and money, and it could cause you to be reprimanded or fired. Instead of lying about your qualifications, be honest about where you stand. If you don't yet have the experience an employer requires, emphasize your willingness to quickly learn new skills.

Tarnished Reputation

No one wants to hire a dishonest employee. Once others in your industry determine you're a liar, your credibility is shot, and you might find it difficult to find another company that's willing to take a chance on you. It might take monumental effort on your part to prove yourself to another potential employer.

Lying on your resume is never worth it. It adds unneeded stress to the hiring process and can cause you to get in over your head at a new job. Moreover, resume lies are easily found out with a thorough background check, and your reputation will suffer. Make your resume more compelling by focusing on relevant qualifications, emphasizing your strengths and using keywords that attract the type of companies you'd like to work for.


Photo courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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