Feeling Stuck with Fake Experience: Should I Stay or Switch Jobs for Better Pay?

Hello everyone, I'm Ram from Bangalore, and I request your assistance to choose the right option.

Career Journey and Challenges

I have completed my MBA in 2009 and started my career with an MNC. I worked in my first company from 2009 to 2011 and then moved to another MNC. I couldn't work for a longer time in my second company (worked from Feb 2011 to Nov 2011) as my dream was to start my own business. I couldn't serve the notice period as I was in a hurry to start my own business and left my second company without taking the relieving letter (I always regret what I have done). Due to heavy competition and lack of capital, I ended up with losses in my business (Nov 2011 to May 2015) and I was left with no other option except to find a job again to feed my family.

Current Employment Situation

With a lot of effort, I could find a job in an MNC (with 4.3 years of fake experience: Feb 2011 to June 2015) with a good package. After 2 years, I got promoted with a decent increment and now I'm happy with my work and my package. But recently, when I met some of my old friends (who also have fake experience), they said that they are getting a high package along with onshore opportunities and advised me to change the organization to get a better package. Can you please advise me on what would be the best option for me now?

Options to Consider

1. Continue with the same organization with the same focus as - It gave me an opportunity to restart my career. It recognized my effort and promoted me to the next level, and there is a dependency on me now due to my niche skills (though there is no onshore opportunity).

2. Switch organizations to get a high package (with a total of 11 years of experience: 2 years in my first organization, 4.3 years of fake experience, and 4.6 years of current job experience). Switching organizations may help to get rid of my personal loans :) but again, I'm scared that I need to manage my fake experience.

Submitting a fake experience certificate is unethical. When you joined the third employer, you could have told them the real reason for starting your own venture and not succeeding. Anyway, now that you have been placed with decent pay and an increment, I suggest you continue with your current employer for a considerable number of years. Also, if you plan to switch jobs for onshore opportunities, be more cautious as your new employment offer will be subject to pre- and post-background checks. In the event of any unpleasant situation arising due to a pre- or post-background check, you may find yourself in trouble without employment.

Thanks, @vmlakshminarayanan, for your reply. I tried to find a job by sharing the actual scenario but failed to secure employment even as a salesman; no one was willing to hire me at that time. However, since you advised me to continue in my current organization for a considerable number of years, could you please clarify what would be considered as a considerable duration? I have completed 4.5 years in my current organization.

The Importance of Ethical Practices in Career Choices

What is your ultimate aim in life? Is it just to keep jumping jobs, earning your salary, and spending it, only to jump again for a better package by creating fake certificates? As our friends mentioned, "indulging in unethical practices"... Please remember you are following in the footsteps of many people like the Founder of Sathyam Computers. One can cheat some people some of the time, but not all the people all the time! Even if you receive a lesser salary through ethical means than a fat salary through unethical means, ultimately, you are answerable to your conscience (if you have one). Why live with a guilty feeling all the time? When you go to bed at night, you may get nightmares because initially, you might feel happy having cheated some company and gotten a job. This will lead to following unethical practices in whatever you do... It will become an endless, compulsive habit ultimately.

Best wishes