By Solanke Oladimeji
In order to make a strong impression, many applicants feel the need to lie on their resumes but that could easily backfire. Here are five things you should never lie about on your CV.
Skill sets
Trying to impress the hiring manager with skills you do not really have can be embarrassing when the truth comes out. A survey by CareerBuilder reveals that the truth about skills is often discovered. Sixty-two percent of employers found embellished skill sets on resumes.
If you feel the need to lie about your skill set, it may be time to acquire some new skills. Education and certification programs are located across the country that can help you stand out from the crowd. Remember, the best time to acquire skills is before you absolutely need them.
Responsibilities
Having impressive job responsibilities help you feel important. If you were important to your old company, maybe a hiring manager will feel like he needs you. But if you do not have noteworthy responsibilities on your resume, you should not simply take the easy route and lie about your qualifications. A survey by CareerBuilder found that 54% of employers discovered embellished responsibilities on resumes.
- Dates of employment
Knowing when you worked at your previous job is an important detail that helps show hiring managers your experience level. It may also help show them how honest or detail-oriented you are. Thirty-nine percent of employers have found incorrect dates of employment on resumes. Some of these may not be bold-face lies, but having anything incorrect on your resume, is a negative in the eyes of a hiring manager.
- Job titles
Nothing can convey importance like a job title, but that still does not mean you should embellish your role at a previous employer. A hiring manager can easily check with your references and find out if you are lying. Thirty-one percent of employers found lies on resumes about job titles. The difference between what you believe and reality can be significant.
- Academic degrees
Having a university degree was once seen as a ticket to the middle class and more. Now, it is practically a requirement just to get a foot in the corporate door. If you do not have a degree, it is not as easy as making up your own college. At least one hiring manager in the CareerBuilder survey said an applicant claimed to have attended a college that did not even exist. Overall, 28% of employers have caught a resume lie about academic degrees.
