The time has come to prepare your resume for the dream job opportunity and you want to make yourself look as employable as possible. Perhaps there are certain fundamental requirements in the job description that you don’t have or there are some grey areas in your employment history you want to blur over. Maybe you were just a few marks off achieving your degree, or you had to drop out at the last minute for some reason. Is there much difference between ‘nearly a degree’ and a degree? Did you get fired from you last job and you want to hide it or is there a big gap in your employment history? What is the big deal about fudging the dates a little?
Think again!
What you include on your resume will make or break your chances of getting the job. Lying may seem like a short-term solution, but in the long run, it could seriously damage your career.
Being Honest And Direct
Don’t start this new stage of your career based on lies. The best practice is to be as honest and direct as possible with your resume. If you need specific skill and experience for a job, what is the sense in pretending that you have them. It will only be more embarrassing further down the line, if you actually get the job, when you cannot perform as expected.
Are You Hiding Something?
Did you leave your last job on bad term? Is there is a gap in your employment that you cannot explain. Of course if you want to omit something from your resume, you can. There are no rules about leaving things out. However, do not lie to cover them up. Do not stretch the dates of other employment to cover up an extended period of unemployment or a job you were fired from. Any respectable hiring manager will do a background check on everything you claim in your resume and if you are found to be lying, your resume will go straight in the trash.
Your resume is the key to your success in getting a job. Employers know that applicants are human and that nobody is perfect. People make mistakes. However, you are only damaging your chances for success if you misrepresenting yourself on your resume! Luckily for you, our blog is packed with great ideas on how to write a winning resume, so you have no excuses for being caught out.