After months of searching for a job, you’re finally in the interview room with the Human Resources Manager and she asks you the dreaded question, “Why did you leave your last job?” The temptation may be to make something up to cover your tracks, but lying in a job interview can ruin your chances of getting hired for a great position. There isn’t as poor of a stigma attached to leaving a job anymore. Employers understand reasons for leaving a job such as standing up for what you believed to be a moral indiscretion. They are also sympathetic to the current state of the economy that has forced thousands of companies to shut doors or cut overhead.
Gaps in employment are the number 1 resume falsification that people tell. Perhaps you’ve been unemployed due to a personal choice. Maybe you’ve had medical issues that have caused you to be unable to work until this point. Or, perhaps you’ve had a harder time finding a position with the current economic state. Any way you slice it, telling resume lies are never a good idea. Be upfront about why there’s a gap of employment on your resume if you’re asked about it. This is not something the majority of employers think twice about if they are given a truthful explanation.
Even if your salary hasn’t been where you wanted it to be and your prospective “dream job” offers much more than you were making, inflating your past earnings won’t pay off in the end! Resume falsification has become even more prevalent in this area. Recent downsizings and salary freezes have put employees in a situation where they try and “stick it out” and wait for better economic times before asking for a raise. Those who took jobs with much less pay may have felt that at the time that they simply were desperate for any job they could find. If you are presented with a request for salary history, don’t lie about it! Resume lies like this are quickly uncovered when employers do a background check which can include a credit check.
If the job you’ve set your sights on has greater responsibility than you’ve ever taken on, but you truly feel that you can rise to the occasion, there is no reason for you to lie about your past positions. If you are granted an opportunity to interview, take this chance to tell the Hiring Manager about relevant responsibilities you’ve had that qualify you for this potential position. Explain that even though you have never had that exact realm of responsibilities, your past positions have gradually increased your responsibilities and that you’re up for the challenge. Use this as an opportunity to show them just how much of a “go getter” you truly are!
Even though it’s tempting to put these 3 resume lies into the equation in order to get a new job, they don’t pay off in the end. Employment gaps are perfectly fine to admit to, salary history will easily be uncovered by the employer, and job title inflation isn’t necessary if you’re upfront and ask for a new challenge. Review your resume and remove any resume falsification you find so that your next job will be perfectly suited to your actual abilities and qualifications.
