At Charles Francis Cooper, we have experienced first-hand what happens when people lie on their CV. Most jobseekers will have been tempted to do it at one time or another, but in our experience it’s never a good idea – the truth will always out and the consequences can be dire. Be honest, and the company you’re looking to join will appreciate it and be more likely to work with you in order to help you succeed.
Instead of embellishing the truth, so to speak, it’s better to employ a more truthful means of making your CV stand out from the rest. Let’s take an example; if you’ve had several jobs in a relatively short time span you may want to change some of those details in order to seem less of a serial job hunter. But what if you then forget about those changes when it comes to your interview? Instead of doctoring your dates, simply omit the reasons you left a job from your CV. You may not even be asked about it!
You could also write a skills-based CV as opposed to listing your employment history; rather than listing individual jobs, list the skills you’ve learned while in those positions. That way, you’re omitting a lengthy job list without telling an outright lie – and highlighting your extensive skill set in the process.
Another common lie is elevating your job title. Of course, if you’ve been working at a higher level without the official title you may feel justified in exaggerating somewhat, but be warned – a simple reference check will find you out instantly. Instead, show how you’ve been performing at that higher level; explain it in your list of responsibilities.
And what about hobbies? Surely everyone lies about those on their CV? That may be the case, but it’s still not a good idea – what if you say you’re a huge Oscar Wilde fan and then go into an interview with the President of his fan club? No matter how innocuous the lie may seem, there’s still a chance you’ll be caught out.
It’s just a case of selling yourself the right way – put the time and effort into writing a CV that properly demonstrates your skills and you’ll go far. And even if you’re not qualified for every job you’d like to apply for, remember this: everyone fails, but failing is what makes people great.