I graduated from a US university in 2012 as a fresher and took up unpaid internships/jobs for mostly a year until I joined a Desi consultancy in 2013. The consultancy put 7 years of fake experience on my resume, and I was able to secure a contract job with one of their MNC clients. I worked for close to 8 months here before I became overwhelmed by guilt and chose to return to India. Since most of my unpaid jobs and internships were undocumented, I asked the consultancy to issue me an offer letter stating I joined them soon after my graduation. The consultancy issued me the relevant documents I asked for. I found a job in India soon after my return and have been working since.
Here is what my profile looks like now:
2012-2013: Was with the consultancy (have the offer letter and relieving letter but no payslips since did not actually work)
2013-2014: Was with the consultancy (actually worked with their clients and have payslips)
2014-2016: Indian employer 1 (found the job here based on the above experience)
2016 onward: Indian employer 2 (found the job here based on the above experience)
Dilemma:
A. Still have a little guilt about the one year I did not work, but showing that I worked with clients.
B. Worried about creating professional social profiles because of the following:
1. My US client may find out that I did not actually have 7 years of experience when I joined them.
2. Don't want to reveal my consultancy name, hence don't know what to mention for 2012-2013.
3. If I remove my 2012-2013 experience, my Indian employers may find out I did not actually work during that time.
Please help...
From India, Mumbai
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Here is what my profile looks like now:
2012-2013: Was with the consultancy (have the offer letter and relieving letter but no payslips since did not actually work)
2013-2014: Was with the consultancy (actually worked with their clients and have payslips)
2014-2016: Indian employer 1 (found the job here based on the above experience)
2016 onward: Indian employer 2 (found the job here based on the above experience)
Dilemma:
A. Still have a little guilt about the one year I did not work, but showing that I worked with clients.
B. Worried about creating professional social profiles because of the following:
1. My US client may find out that I did not actually have 7 years of experience when I joined them.
2. Don't want to reveal my consultancy name, hence don't know what to mention for 2012-2013.
3. If I remove my 2012-2013 experience, my Indian employers may find out I did not actually work during that time.
Please help...
From India, Mumbai
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You've found yourself in a complex situation, but let's try to navigate this together.
1. 📝 Honesty is the best policy: Moving forward, it's crucial to remain truthful about your work experience. Although it might seem tempting to continue the façade to avoid potential issues, it could result in more severe consequences down the line.
2. 🤔 Addressing your guilt: Your guilt is a sign of your integrity and it's good you acknowledge it. You may consider coming clean about your past to your current employer. It is a risk, and they may be upset, but they may also appreciate your honesty.
3. 💼 Professional social profiles: If you decide to create professional social profiles, you could mention that you worked at a consultancy in the US from 2012-2014 without naming the actual consultancy. You can list your roles and responsibilities without going into details about your clients.
4. 🚫 Avoiding future issues: Don’t, under any circumstances, repeat this in the future. Misrepresentation can lead to termination or even legal issues.
5. 📚 Learn from the past: Use this experience as a learning opportunity. While it's understandable that you were trying to secure employment, honesty and integrity are highly valued in any professional setting.
6. 🌱 Growth: Embark on professional development opportunities. This can supplement your actual experience and make you a more desirable candidate for future employers.
Remember, moving forward with honesty will not only alleviate your guilt but will also help you establish a transparent and trustworthy professional reputation.
From India, Gurugram
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591. 📝 Honesty is the best policy: Moving forward, it's crucial to remain truthful about your work experience. Although it might seem tempting to continue the façade to avoid potential issues, it could result in more severe consequences down the line.
2. 🤔 Addressing your guilt: Your guilt is a sign of your integrity and it's good you acknowledge it. You may consider coming clean about your past to your current employer. It is a risk, and they may be upset, but they may also appreciate your honesty.
3. 💼 Professional social profiles: If you decide to create professional social profiles, you could mention that you worked at a consultancy in the US from 2012-2014 without naming the actual consultancy. You can list your roles and responsibilities without going into details about your clients.
4. 🚫 Avoiding future issues: Don’t, under any circumstances, repeat this in the future. Misrepresentation can lead to termination or even legal issues.
5. 📚 Learn from the past: Use this experience as a learning opportunity. While it's understandable that you were trying to secure employment, honesty and integrity are highly valued in any professional setting.
6. 🌱 Growth: Embark on professional development opportunities. This can supplement your actual experience and make you a more desirable candidate for future employers.
Remember, moving forward with honesty will not only alleviate your guilt but will also help you establish a transparent and trustworthy professional reputation.
From India, Gurugram
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