Solved by verified expert:The most common lies on a resume (and what HR actually checks) Elizabeth Bromstein| I recently met someone who had been laid off not too long ago. Telling me about the job search, she said she’d been fudging the truth on her resume and in interviews, and by “fudging the truth,” I mean “lying.”
the_most_common_lies_on_a_resume.docx
Unformatted Attachment Preview
The most common lies on a resume (and what HR actually checks)
Elizabeth Bromstein|
I recently met someone who had been laid off not too long ago. Telling me about the job search,
she said she’d been fudging the truth on her resume and in interviews, and by “fudging the
truth,” I mean “lying.”
She’d lost her job, which she’d had for a year, several weeks ago, but told me, “I’m telling them I
still work there, and that the role isn’t what I expected when I took the position.”
Another truth she was fudging was her salary, to which she was adding a breezy $20,000.
“Wow,” I said. “That sounds…incredibly stupid.” I am nothing if not charming upon first meeting.
She said she thought it was a “calculated risk.” I let it drop. But I still thought it was dumb. The
two things she’s lying about are things that any respectable HR person can easily check, and is
likely to. Right?
Not necessarily, as I have since discovered. Who knew?
I asked one HR manager who asked that his name not be disclosed. He told me, “I don’t check
last salary. I think it’s not as important as the combination of what people want, market value for
the job and what I’m willing to pay. We use a third party to background check everyone as a
condition of the offer, so I would usually find out if they were fired or laid off and we confirm
exact dates of employment.” This, he says, is the most common resume lie. However, put this in
your ‘good to know’ file. He adds, “If they are currently employed and they ask us not to contact
their current employer, we won’t, so that’s the risk they could lie about their current situation and
get away with it. Also a lot of companies won’t disclose too much info, so sometimes you can’t
get what you need.”
Still, even if you get away with it, and land your dream job, for all you know, your old boss could
follow you there, or even a former co-worker, and let the cat out of the bag. Or someone could
just be chatting with your old boss at a party. The point is, you could get caught at any time.
Regardless of the risks, this old Forbes (pre-recession, but still) article says about 40% of
people lie on their resumes. The most common lies listed on are:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Lying about getting a degree (M.B.A. from Whatsa Matta U)
Playing with dates (2000-2004: Rikers Island Starbucks)
Exaggerating numbers (Increased revenues infinity percent)
Increasing previous salary (They paid me in ingots and conflict diamonds)
Inflating titles (Most Exalted Grand Poobah)
Lying about technical abilities (Haskell and Lisp? In my sleep bro!)
Claiming language fluency ( Urdu, Tagalog, and that African clicking language)
Providing a fake address (1600 Pennsylvania avenue, 10236 Charing Cross Road)
Padding grade point averages ( 9.0…What?)
Come on folks. HR peeps are hip to this stuff. You think they never heard of combining your
salary and bonus to create an inflated number? Puh-lease. And they’re going to figure out you
don’t know Haskell the second they ask you to code something.
Also, if they do find out, they’re not going to tell you. They just won’t hire you. So, you’ll never
know, and keep making the same dumb mistake. In the immortal words of Melle Mel: “Don’t do
it.”
I don’t think this means, however, that you can’t make things look awesome, maybe awesomer
than they actually are, without lying. If you don’t have the degree, highlight the related courses
you have taken. And if you don’t have enough experience, write in action and industry words
and play up your skills and accomplishments. How? Easy. Observe:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Moved a clothing rack – “Redesigned inventory placement.”
Talked a customer into buying two ice cream cones instead of one – “Increased revenues
100%.”
Worked as a cashier – “Supervised financial transactions with the public.”
Answered phone – “Console communications specialist.”
Pointed a customer towards the bathroom – “Solved customer problems/Improved health
and safety protocol.”
Showed a new person how to work the coffee machine – “Employee training in office
technology.”
Got creepy person to leave the building – “Enforced security protocol and secured business
perimeter.”
Sent external emails – “Updated communications and served as public relations liaison.”
Got obnoxious office mate to stop telling dirty jokes – “Served as employee grievance
mediator.”
Unjammed paper from copy machine – “Troubleshooting print technology.”
Opened baffling attachment: “Served as communications sysadmin.”
Planned small surprise karaoke party for boss – “Media and entertainment planner.”
Just be sure not to claim anything you can’t back up. Then, as soon as you get the chance,
amass the skills and accomplishments you need on the job so you won’t have to stretch the
truth next time.
Question for “The most Common Lies on Resumes”
%
Answer the following questions in complete sentences:
1.
2.
3.
4.
What is the most common lie according to the article?
What are the dangers of lying on your resume?
Which idea or ideas in the article are useful to you in writing your resume?
What is the worst that can happen if HR finds out you were lying on your resume?
Explain the following expressions in your own words:
a)
b)
c)
Market value for the job
We use a third party to background check everyone.
Be sure not claim anything you can’t back up.
…
Purchase answer to see full
attachment
