I lied on my resume to get a job!
Welcome to another edition of Whatever Matters, a weekly newsletter where I provide actionable and thoughtful ideas to help you build a high-performing life and career.
Today’s overview:
Why you shouldn’t lie on your resume
Tools to improve your productivity
Today’s edition is brought to you by Qurez,
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Why you shouldn’t lie on your resume.
First things first. No, I didn’t lie on my resume. If you go check my LinkedIn profile you can proudly see all the details including my work at McDonalds. I don’t shy away from reality and neither should you.
I understand that we’re facing a competitive job market, and the urge to make your resume attractive can be strong - every opening has over 100 applicants and you want to shine out.
I get that. But (there’s always a but)
Lying isn’t the solution - it never will be for any situation you’re in (well, lie in a life-threatening situation but not in a job search)
Well, let’s understand what lies you have to avoid;
Falsifying education or certifications
Inflating job titles or responsibilities
Exaggerating achievements or metrics
Inventing work experience or companies
Misrepresenting employment dates or skills
Now, what could be the risk factors associated with a false resume?
Legal Repercussions: While lying itself isn't always a crime, it can lead to legal trouble if it causes harm to the employer, such as financial loss or damage to reputation.
Professional Fallout: Getting caught in a lie can irreparably damage your professional reputation, leading to job loss, difficulty finding future employment, and a tarnished image in your industry.
Ethical Implications: Lying undermines trust between employers and employees, setting a negative precedent for professional conduct. Building a career on honesty and integrity fosters long-term success.
You’re a smart individual and you must know that employers have various methods to verify the information on your resume, including background checks that confirm education, employment history, and other details. Falsifying this information can easily be uncovered, leading to immediate disqualification.
Even the slightest of misinformation can lead to unknown circumstances for you.
The most effective and ethical approach is to emphasise your genuine strengths and accomplishments. Craft impactful resume achievements that highlight your real contributions, using quantifiable metrics and strong action verbs. Tailor your resume to each job description, aligning your skills and experiences with the employer's specific needs.
And, when in doubt about what kind of resume to create you can always get my career coaching. I have helped a decent number of people get high-paying jobs through my personalised career coaching.
Tools that will help you with your productivity
Sixty AI: Runs in the background of your devices, managing all your incoming messages, invites, and alerts and only interrupting you when it’s really important.
Native AI: Get your work done faster with one AI interface across all your apps.
Deepgram: Convert text into lifelike AI voices in real-time with Aura, Deepgram's lightning-fast (sub 250 ms latency), low-cost text-to-speech API. Sign up to try now.