Seriously, Don’t Lie on Your Resume

We’ve all been there.  The job market is tight, you’ve sent your resume to just about every job you see posted – whether you’re qualified or not (that’s a whole other issue!) – and it can be so frustrating that none of the companies or recruiters are calling you back.  You think no one will ever hire you.  You’re probably thinking that if your resume were just a little bit better – maybe if you just extended the dates of employment by just a few months, or if your resume just had a Bachelors of something, or if you maybe put some work-abroad position…  You’re probably thinking – what’s the harm?  Close enough!  No one will ever find out.  It won’t matter.

 STOP.  I know it is really tempting but DO NOT do it.  Companies do conduct background checks.  They will find out.  And when they do, you will most likely be fired for lying on your employment application and for falsifying your credentials before you even walk through the door.  Then you will actually be in worse shape because you will now also feel awful and stupid about what you’ve done.

If you really feel that your resume is the problem, try adding a few words explaining why you left each company.  For example:

Fred’s Coffee Shop – Server – May 2011 to January 2012 (reason for leaving – Reduction in Force) 

That means you were laid off.  If you were fired, especially for cause (a good reason), maybe say that you left for personal reasons.  But whatever you do, DO NOT lie on your resume.  You will get caught and you will be fired.  Think Scott Thompson, CEO of Yahoo fired for lying about his college degree.  Granted, Yahoo stupidly did not do a background check – but I’ll bet they do now!!!