CV writing and the economics of truth

alunharford

If you write your CV to imply something that isn't true then:

If it's relevant to the job it will cause you a lot of hassle, and

If it's not relevant to the job it doesn't matter.

I've never understood the whole 'lying on your CV' thing. Do you really think the people doing an interview are so stupid they won't work it out? Do you want to waste your time doing an interview that will come to nothing? Maybe it's because I work in a technical area, but there's no way I'd consider lying on a CV - it's not ethical and it's pointless.

orange_juice_jones

Well, better to be loose on ethics than broke and homeless.

freakyogre

I'd never add anything or lie about being able to do something in order to get a job.

However, I had a bad experience with a job this year which only lasted 2 months. At the moment I am listing it on my CV/application form (too honest and worry about the gap), but when I do get another job I will put that in the past.
When applying for another job after that, I will not be mentioning the previous one as it may cause problems and as it was such a short time, I don't think it will matter.

Lollypop75

freakyogre wrote: »

I'd never add anything or lie about being able to do something in order to get a job.

However, I had a bad experience with a job this year which only lasted 2 months. At the moment I am listing it on my CV/application form (too honest and worry about the gap), but when I do get another job I will put that in the past.
When applying for another job after that, I will not be mentioning the previous one as it may cause problems and as it was such a short time, I don't think it will matter.

Yeah I had a two month job during my gap year before University that was awful. I was pretty close to getting fired, but in the end I couldn't hack it and just left. I've never written it on an application form. Luckily I went travelling soon after I left (I was going to be leaving in about 3 weeks anyway), then went off to University. So it really hasn't been a big deal.

anewman

Sadly in most jobs it's a case of the best BS'er gets the job, rather than the best person for that job. The interviewers are looking for the best person to do the job, so if you communicate better than the person who can do the job best, job's yours. Get practicing your BS'ing skills to get that job! But lying about something that can be found out as untrue probably won't do you any favours.