| As a number of corporate executives have found, lying on a job
resume can have severe consequences. It's important to be honest on
your resume -- whether you're applying for a job as CEO or as a
general labourer -- because the risk of being caught in a lie is so
great it isn't worth it. Don't lie about anything, as employers and
recruiters do check and you can get found out. Thus, you won't get
hired, or worse still, you'll get fired. Numerous studies show that
job seekers put significant amounts of inaccurate information in
their resumes. The most common falsehoods involve education, listing
a degree the job applicant didn't get or inflating grades. Second is
making up job titles, then, increasing salaries and
mischaracterizing why they left previous jobs. One study found
that almost 43 percent of resumes it checked for employment dates,
job titles and education contained at least one glaring inaccuracy.
Some 13 percent had two or more inaccuracies. Is it that some job
applicants believe inflating credentials would give them a leg up?
Do job applicants fell that everyone is doing it, so what's wrong?
Bad idea, as lies often hurt you sooner or later. Companies have
procedures to verify information on resumes or on job application
forms. This checking is increasing and you'll pay the penalty if you
lie! Resume Lies Have Dire Consequences Yes, Canadian privacy laws make it more difficult to probe a job candidate's work history. It's also true that many managers and even junior HR people are often lax when checking out a resume. On the other hand, Recruitment firms leave no stone unturned in checking candidates out thoroughly - they're reputations depend on it. A senior recruiter tells an interesting story. "I interviewed an impressive candidate who told me he was a graduate of a well-known training program at a well-known company. He provided a reference who was on leave as it turned out, when I called. So I talked to the department manager. The truth came out! The reference was really a former colleague! My impressive candidate had been turned down for the program! Too bad he didn't just tell me that. I considered hiring him anyway, but his lying made me decide to look elsewhere". The irony is that, the main reason job applicants don't get a job isn't credentials. It's because their resumes aren't targeted to the employer and job offered. Every time you send your resume, you must customize it to show how your background makes you a good fit. It has to say, "I am what you're looking for, and this is how my background relates to it". As recruiters and employers are inundated with resumes, knowing many are inaccurate, scanning to remove candidates is the norm. Thus, it's become very important to put a strong summary statement at the top of a resume. You must make it clear at the top what it is you want to do. If not, you're positioned by your most recent job. It is not necessary to give all past jobs equal prominence; highlight those jobs you want the hiring person to notice. In today's economy it's not unusual to lose a job through no fault of your own, with downsizing, restructuring and all. So, do not feel uncomfortable revealing why you left a previous job, even if it was not voluntary. Most human resource managers know this and do not judge you unfairly for it. Resumes are simply marketing tools designed to do one thing: make the phone ring so you get a job interview. Once it does, you'd better be ready to back up your paper claims. Once again truth and your resume is of utmost importance to your job hunting success!Calgary Jobs Edmonton Jobs Halifax Jobs Ottawa Jobs Kitchener Waterloo Jobs London Jobs Montreal Jobs Ottawa Jobs Quebec City Jobs Regina Jobs Toronto Jobs Vancouver Jobs Victoria Jobs Windsor Jobs Winnipeg Jobs
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