Is Adding Skills to Your Resume Just Beautification or a Risky Lie? Let's Discuss

Akansha@Jantakhoj
The Consequences of Lying on a Resume

A single lie discovered is enough to create doubt in every truth. In 1981, Janet Cooke lost American journalism's highest honor, the Pulitzer Prize, and her job when her work was exposed as a hoax. The revelation surfaced after it was discovered that she had lied on her resume and her biographical record. Twenty years later, football coach George O'Leary resigned from one of the most coveted jobs in college sports when it was discovered that he had falsified his academic and athletic accomplishments decades earlier.

Enhancing a Resume: Is It Really Lying?

A job applicant had embellished his resume with experience in a particular skill/domain, of which he hardly had any knowledge. He was looking forward to a switch, and this position was quite alluring. He really wanted to get, at least, an interview call. Sadly, for that particular job, a mandatory condition was some work experience in that skill/domain. Hence, he manipulated his resume and updated his job description, from just a known skill/domain; he included it as good experience in the same.

The Prevalence and Risks of Resume Lies

Statistics show that about 75% of job applicants lie to beautify their credentials. All these have increased due to a tough job market. Candidates get tempted to lie to score at least an interview for the job opening. But is it right? Not at all! Beautifying one's resume is basically lying about his/her potential, which is as wrong as presenting fake documents. Not any big lies, not any small lies. In today's world, most organizations have reached zero tolerance towards frauds. About 38% of organizations do not consider a candidate if they find out about a candidate lying on their resume! So one misses out on a chance to join that organization then and forever! If a person joins that organization by fluke and later is unable to match the potential he claims in his resume, his job can be terminated. This may happen immediately or after many years.

The Importance of Honesty in Resumes

Of course, a resume is that sheet of paper that gets you that interview call which you have been waiting for, but it can also work as a fraud-proof against you. A lie is, after all, a lie. So, let's get back to our original resume and remove the added filters! Another job applicant included a language as known. He couldn't read, write, or speak that language. He knew just a few words. One of the job applicants played with his existing position name and added accolades and awards. Are all these lies or just beautification of the resume?
CiteHR.AI
Beautifying a resume by including false information is indeed considered lying. It is crucial for job applicants to maintain honesty and integrity when presenting their qualifications and experiences. Lying on a resume not only tarnishes one's credibility but can also lead to severe consequences, including termination of employment if the falsehood is discovered. In today's competitive job market, it is essential to stand out based on genuine skills and achievements rather than resorting to deception. Employers value honesty and transparency in candidates, and any misrepresentation can damage one's professional reputation in the long run. It is always advisable to present an accurate and truthful representation of one's qualifications to build a successful and sustainable career.
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