BlogBreak

By Atlanta Pearl Girl

September 12, 2007 11:35 AM | Link to this

To me…..if you lie about something ‘period’……how can I trust you?

Hm…….

By DJ

September 12, 2007 11:50 AM | Link to this

I never knew people lied on their resume until I became a hiring manager. The lies make it extremely difficult to find talented people. When the excellent liars do get in, then they can’t perform the job. This, of course, is passed on to the next array of candidates who apply for the job but one starts wondering if they made a mistake by not choosing the right candidate because they couldn’t answer a technical question. Interviewing is always difficult for the candidate’s nerves but hiring managers can’t help remembering that nightmare encountered from the liar. So the cycle begins.

By Tommy

September 12, 2007 12:03 PM | Link to this

…DJ, don’t forget that most “hiring managers” lie to the propsective employee……right?…

By NParry

September 12, 2007 12:40 PM | Link to this

Most resume fibs are based on fear and anxiety because the job descriptions given out by HR is almost always a fib too! Most jobs never pan out to be a real match with the job description and most HR front-line interviewees know very little about a particular job’s day-to-day responsibilities anyway. We all know that HR managers are not the most honest people in the world and on a trust level, probably they’re way below others, given the corporate culture these days.

By BAM

September 12, 2007 12:50 PM | Link to this

Having been both the hiring manager and the applicant, I believe that it is wrong to lie on your resume. If you are applying for a job that requires certain level of education or credentials, then go to school, get the required experience then apply for the job!

By diddy

September 12, 2007 1:05 PM | Link to this

Do you mean flat out laying or “stretching the truth”. There is a difference between the two.

I know plenty of people who “stretch the truth” on their resumes to make their job experience and skills match the job description. Is that wrong? perhaps, but some job descriptions are so detailed and specific that you have to be creative. For example, how many of you all out there have 10 years experience as an underwater oil drilling logistics consultant with OSHA certification able to troublshoot using XYZ software?

By Anika Durand

September 12, 2007 1:14 PM | Link to this

I am SOOOOOO tired of the nuevo Puritanical quasi-morality nowadays. Yawn…

Do y’all know how Steven Speilberg started his career? He lied!

He went to the Universal Studios lot, somehow found an office that was vacant and pretended he was the “new guy”. When his ruse was discovered he was given a chance- because he had the courage to go for what he knew he could do.Hence an amazing career started. Should his entire career be taken away? Is his career based on lies?

And just what makes a “lie” anyway?

Enuogh with silly, vapid and near Fascistic articles like this. Until the Catch-22 nature of the marketplace is rendered obsolete: i.e. you cannot get a good job without experience and until you have experience you cannot get a good job—

I say lie away- IF you know you can do the job. And only then.

More great people have “lied” to just get the experience than you think…and have gone on to have a positive effect on our society.

Thank you,

Anika

By Thrash

September 12, 2007 1:31 PM | Link to this

I put a “fib” on my resume once and the HR department of the hiring company called the former employer. My ex-manager got the call and when asked about my length of experience on a subject, LIED for me and covered my butt! I got the job and I didn’t know any of this had happened until I ran into him at a restaurant one night. He asked me if I got the job at so-and-so. I asked “How did you know?” He told me about the call and how he covered for me because he felt bad about the layoff and having to cut so many good people (including me).

If you’re gonna lie on your resume it helps to have left the old job on good terms!

By WorkerBee

September 12, 2007 1:31 PM | Link to this

I agree with NParry. Most jobs advertised never turn out to be real period. Most of them are just resume collectors. A lot of the expectations are unreal. They expect you to have such a wide variety of different skills and knowledge that hardly anyone has. Also, if you’re good in your field, you can learn what ever it is they want that you don’t have easily. For example, if you’re a computer programmer with skills in Visual Basic, you can easily learn Java or some other language. The key to programming is being able to think logically and have a concept of structure. All languages do the same thing, the instruction or code is just different.

As for lying, sure it’s wrong, but with resumes residing on computers and being sent out with emails, it’s so easy to tweak or modify your resume. In fact a lot of the sites that allow you to post resumes in your job search have mechanisms that allow you to upload multiple resumes. Why would you need multiple resumes? Staffing agencies even modify resumes to fit their needs and the job requirement.

The best way to screen candidates is not by the resume, but with meaningful interviews and testing. By meaningful interviews I mean it’s useless to ask a job canditate questions like “what are your goals”, “why do you want to work here”, or “what was your most difficult task”?… None of those type of questions has anything to do with being able to do the job. Realistically, in todays job market where you’re here today and gone tomorrow because of mergers, downsizing, cheap labor (guest workers and green card holders), the answer to those questions are obvious. Most goals nowadays is to stay employed somewhere with some stability. Most people want to work anywhere that pays enough to meet their bills. And the most difficult task might have been getting out of the bed every morning, but surely you don’t expect them to be truthful and say that.

By Stephanie

September 12, 2007 1:35 PM | Link to this

In general, lying is wrong. However, I have done it. The employer wanted 3 years experience. I had two. So sue me. I still did a great job and eventually left on my own terms.

If you lie about knowing something you don’t really know, then you deserve to get caught. If you fudged a bit to sweeten your resume but still have what the employer needs, you should be fine.

By WorkerBee

September 12, 2007 2:02 PM | Link to this

Unfortunately the corporate climate has also encouraged resume lying. Most companies have gone to outsourcing and have what they call a preferred vendor list. And most times there is one vendor that going to get most of the business, but they have the others on the list just to cover their behind legally. Now if you get contacted by the vendor that is not getting most of the business, it doesn’t matter if your resume says “you were sent by God”, you’re not getting in. I’ve seen so many incompetent people get jobs through the vendor that gets most of the business. Figure that one out.

Another factor that encourage candidates to lie is that a lot of these vendors want you to sign an exclusive right to represent you knowing well that they don’t stand much of a chance of getting you in if they are not the vendor that gets most of the business. Why would I want to sign something like that and limit my chances of employment? I want to be on everybody’s list. Ahhh, but they tell you that if you’re on more than one list the employer throws your name out as a potential client. So actually the best candidate could be tossed out in all of this bureaucracy.

By Pam

September 12, 2007 2:19 PM | Link to this

I remember a lawsuit involving EEOC claims. In the discovery part, several lies were uncovered on the Plaintiff’s job application. These lies destroyed the Plaintiff’s credibility and cost him the case against his employer.

By WorkerBee

September 12, 2007 2:19 PM | Link to this

One more thing. In my case there is no need to lie on my resume. Most of the companies I’ve worked for are not around anymore. They’ve either been gobbled up or run out of business. So, WHO YA GONNA CALL????

By Cece

September 12, 2007 2:39 PM | Link to this

I too have been on both sides of the hiring realm. When I’ve had to interview for a position I’ve asked questions that the person interviweing me could not answer. Lying is wrong BUT most big companies are using computer software to pull key words from a resume and with all the lay-offs in the Atlanta area you have to stand out some how. You almost need to lie just to GET a interview! Just don’t lie and say you can do something you can’t because in most companies there is no “training”. They show you your desk/office and you are pretty much on your own.. As for the hiring manager unless they have actually done the work they don’t have a clue…

By Ronda

September 12, 2007 2:43 PM | Link to this

Lying on your resume is really a bad idea. Some people stretch things to help them get the job because they are really qualified and its just hard to get a job these days.

I wonder when managers/recruiters will be called on the carpet for lying about job descriptions (portraying the job to be more than it is, giving a much lower salary because you can get away with it, say you keep resumes you threw in the trash).

By jeed

September 12, 2007 2:56 PM | Link to this

By Tommy - …DJ, don’t forget that most “hiring managers” lie to the propsective employee……right?…

Wow… d*mn good point.

By NParry

September 12, 2007 3:04 PM | Link to this

Well corporations lie to get their profits (a la Enron, etc.etc.). So what’s the big deal if prospects lie on their resume? It’s lying that is making the world go around, or so it seems. Do we have any moral titans running corporations and government in this country anymore? No, it’s top to bottom lying that’s getting the job done.

By Reese

September 12, 2007 3:10 PM | Link to this

Isnt a resume just an advertisment anyway!

I have never lied on my resume however in the past I did stretch the truth on my education because I hadnt finished my degree at that time.

I think that it is up to recruiters and talent acquisition to the necessary background checks anyway. People will always lie and this is why you have to weed those people out.

By Joe

September 12, 2007 3:25 PM | Link to this

This whole issue is such a joke. The biggest liars are in the hiring position. Most companies go through the process of posting job listings as a smoke screen. The hiring manager’s look out for their friends and the friends of friends. Qualifications has taken a secondary place to who do you know that’s on the inside that will pull for you. With downsizing and the economy, people who closely have what’s required and know that they can perform the job will embellish to a certain extent. Employers generally only give dates of employment. Few are willing to go further.

By Noelle

September 12, 2007 3:27 PM | Link to this

I’ve never lied on a resume, and when I was a hiring manager, I would’ve fired someone if I found they had.

I don’t see any need to tell an outright lie. It’s not really any harder to tell the truth but be creative about it. If an ad wants XYZ software, and you only have ABC software experience, then say so — but point out how similar the two programs are, and how quickly you’ve learn new programs in the past. If the job wants 3 years of experience and you only have 2, but you did something closely related for 2 additional years, then point that out.

Also keep in mind that some job ads are posted to fulfill some kind of regulatory requirement where the employer actually already has a candidate in mind. I’m in a position like that right now myself, as a contractor trying to get hired as a direct employee. The job does exist, but unless something drastic happens, no one from the outside will get hired for it.

By Dee

September 12, 2007 4:44 PM | Link to this

This is a tough one ** I agree with several who’ve expressed their opinion, “you have to do something in order to at least get your foot in the door” or “to have a chance at an interview”… but… there are limitations. I think the only time one can “wing it during the interview” or “get by on the resume” is with describing their “general office/administrative” experience”….because those jobs are general, basically simple duties and most people can be trained,etc. About 30 years ago I worked for a prominent personnel agency in Atlanta and we placed full time positions, mostly with fees paid by the hiring employer. This was when wordprocessing was new, and various types of software or WANG typewriters were used, and “dictaphones” were used by many companies instead of “shorthand”…. rather than have a good applicant lose an opportunity to at least attend an interview, we actually coached them to say “yes” to any questions about their experience or familiarity with these various devices… and, when they were put on the spot and asked to transcribe or required to take a typing test, they were encouraged to simply state, “Oh, this is not the same kind of equipment that I used in the past… would you please quickly show me how to operate this machine?” and that worked very well for most…. because we realized that we should not “screen out” anyone - the employer could be looking for a nice person with a pleasing smile, who was trainable…. and was not really such a sticker for the specified experience as described in the job vacancy announcement. … But, there’s the other side - being a coworker to a person who’s lied about their experience and credentials… as a result the person turns out to be a real “misfit” for the position and then we are stuck with them. In my current position I have a couple of coworkers who clearly told a whole lot of lies about their job experience in the legal field….another one sort of “exaggerated” their legal experience . and it’s management’s own fault that they did not bother to check any references about this great on the job experience or otherwise verify some of the bogus credentials. Within a very short amount of time it was apparent to everyone that the individuals had never really worked at any JAG office under a judge in the military. nor processed cases and prepared briefs, and attended court hearings, because, they didn’t even know what the terminology meant. So the company sends them to get paralegal training, and they cannot pass the course, because, really, as it turns out, they were not very good readers, either. Clearly, both individuals had someone else actually prepare the applications, resumes, and answer the tough questions on the job application, because, it turns out they really didn’t know anything much about legal office proceedings, or basic terminology. I was tipped off when it was discovered they didn’t know what a notary public did or meant…. ..let alone undetrstand any of the standard legal instruments and basic terminology used in the legal field.

By amonti

September 12, 2007 4:56 PM | Link to this

Folks not to jump on a soap box but rather just to put in my two cents worth. It’s about ethics, personal ethics to be more exact. What if your grade school child (or any grade student) was cheating on a test and then lied about it? Would you condone his/her actions? Would you tell him/her to “just be more careful” next time and not get caught? If your answer is YES to either of these questions, then it’s no wonder we have the moral decay running rampant in our country like we do. Needless to say, if the answer to the above questions is NO, then how do you condone lying just to get a job? It makes you a hypocrite and IMHO not worthy of having the job to start with. Ethics, no matter if the company practices it or not (i.e. Enron) and all companies “fudging the bottom line” will eventually get caught. So will the liar.

KOD

By friendly fred

September 12, 2007 5:00 PM | Link to this

Americans almost never get away with lying on there resume!,unlike the million or so illegal immigrants that has arrived in the past eight years! Even with the threat of being reported to the I.N.S.,or any reporting agency,corrupt employers don’t care!The employer know these people don’t have papers,and they don’t ask.They’re prefered over Americans because it fattens their pockets! I work with illegals everyday, and they brag about it!, while mine and other Americans ,document must be virtually impeccable! I call it Terrorism,what do you call it?George Bush say they’re taking jobs americans don’t want!This statement precipitated the flood,as the illegals saw it as party approval,rightly so,as every branch of government cow-towed the party line! Go check the facts!

By Rickster

September 12, 2007 6:11 PM | Link to this

You work for twenty years at a job learn everything there is to know. The job gets bought by another company. They don’t need you any more. You’re now looking for another job. Now you know every thing but don’t have a degree. You get another job low paying and have to teach everybody else how to do everything, and when there is a problem they always call you. But because you don’t have a degree your stuck making almost minimun wage. What about a resume?

By raz

September 13, 2007 11:30 AM | Link to this

By Raz, After reading the comments written on this subject.it seem to be valid for both sides .The simple truth not all jobs are a fit for all people. Normally desperate to meet financial resposibilites some are forced to find work not a career.Be it a lay-off ,or sales are slumping people jump.Other factors are many of the interveiwers are either managers or HR people rarely both. Without any knowledge of how benefits or how payroll works. . Only after employment is consumated. are when inaccuracys are brought to the fore front. Gaps such as medical - personal time are negitives that end an interveiw early. Also any incorrect information form 3rd parties The,applicant has to correct and then application is put on back burner. Remember everyone has and will tell a lie. Misinformation about Degrees and titles are no-no’s . The rest is can you do the job and is the company truly being upfront .Even after 3 interveiws and all checks ,will not validate someones success at a company especially when put in a turbulent company enviorment. Many people have been told they would not amount to anything and are rich and famous. Employers ,there are alot of great unemployeed workers out there. Get them working and treat them well. Keep to your commitment and the employee will keep theirs.Maybe you will have less turn-over.

By Terri

September 18, 2007 10:06 AM | Link to this

BLACK REPULICANS WAKE UP! TAVIS SMILEY GAVE A PLATFORM FOR THE REP AND DEM CANDIDATES TO DISCUSS SOME IMPORTANT ISSUES! NONE OF THE FRONT RUNNING REP SHOWED UP! WHAT DOES THAT SAY!!! WAKE UP! VOTE DEMOCRAT! REPUBLICANS DO NOT CARE ABOUT OUR ISSUES!

By John

September 19, 2007 3:24 PM | Link to this

I knew people stretched the truth… But this lady flat out lied. We just hired a lady in the accounting dept for the company I work for. The reason she got the job is becuase she had experience in this new sofware we were getting… Well come to find out the worst part of training her was on basic computer skills, we could not even get to the accounting part of it. I told her one day to open up her e-mail, and the internet popped up. I swear to this day.. she thought the big E ment e-mail…