Fib Now, Pay Later: The Disastrous Results of Lying on Your Resumé
Since you graduated, you’ve had a hard time finding a job. It’s really no surprise considering the current state of the economy. The national unemployment rate is higher than it’s been in nearly three decades and job prospects for graduates can be pretty bleak. You don’t want to complain, but nearly a year has gone by since commencement, you’re still working at Subway for a fraction of what you’re worth, and you just have to get out of there!
You can feel your brain cells wasting away from the lack of activity. And it’s not like you haven’t been on five different career website on a daily basis, applying for everything new in your field. You know you’re capable of doing the work if only you could get a foot in the door, but you’re up against candidates who have far more schooling and years of experience. How can you reasonably compete with that? You think you could nab the job by simply adding a little extra schooling or experience to your resumé. No one would ever know it was fake and it could give you a chance to prove that you can do the job. What would be the harm in that?
Actually, it could potentially cost you a lot. Forget for a moment that getting caught lying on your resumé is grounds for firing at any job. Consider the personal ramifications of getting hired on false pretenses. For one thing, there’s a good chance you really aren’t ready for the job you’ve gotten. Without experience, how would you know? There’s a reason most people start at the bottom, and it’s to learn the ropes so that when they advance, they’re ready for the additional responsibility.
If you don’t have a basis for understanding the ins and outs of the job, you cannot reasonably expect to succeed. Then there’s the ever-present threat of being found out, which can be both stressful and consuming. If you can’t focus on your work because you’re constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop, you are not going to be able to perform at your peak. And what if you do succeed, only to get caught? Then you’ve lost all that time working for a good reference only to have a job that is virtually useless on your resumé.
In addition, it could seriously affect your ability to hire on at a new company. What good is real job experience if it means that a call to verify employment will result in losing out on an opportunity to hire on with a new employer? Technically, it is illegal for a previous employer to slander you, and they are really only allowed to verify dates of employment, wages, and whether or not you’re listed as re-hirable. And while most HR departments are very strict about what information can be given out, it may not stop an unscrupulous employee from spilling the gossip on what got you fired. Sadly, there is really no recourse. Sure you can sue, but since you have to meet the burden of proof, you have almost no chance of winning. Plus, a lot of information can be conveyed both through tone of voice and phrasing, so they don’t even have to do anything illegal to stop you from working. And let’s face it, you’ve really done it to yourself.
So if you’re thinking about lying on your resumé, whether it’s to get your foot in the door or to shoot for a better job, you should really stop and consider the negative impact it could have on your life. True, you might never get caught, and getting that job could jump-start your career or take it to the next level, but do you really want to begin your professional life with a lie? You will probably feel a lot better knowing that you’ve entered the world of gainful employment on your own merit, even if it takes a little more time. Plus, you won’t have to spend every waking moment wondering if today will be your last day because someone found you out.
Ryan Levinson is the owner of the popular self defense website Hertao.
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