[adam321]

Can i lie on my cv? im just talking about pretending about having previous work experience

[M1011]

Can you? I don't know, do you have an imagination? If so then you probably can.

Should you? No, you shouldn't. It's dishonest, will likely get your application binned when they ask for references, and can result in you being dismissed at any point in the future if you get discovered.

[threeportdrift]

(Original post by adam321)
Can i lie on my cv? im just talking about pretending about having previous work experience

If you get a job with a CV, that CV (or any application form, covering letter etc) effectively becomes part of your contract. If you are then found to have lied in that paperwork, it gives the employer the ability to dismiss you instantly. That not only makes you jobless, but it makes it very much harder to get another job. You might get away with it, but if you don't the consequences could be a lot more challenging than taking a couple of hours to write a decent CV.

[PinkMobilePhone]

If you state that you have a qualification in a certain skill, but you don't, but you actually do have the practical experience in this skill (you just don't have it on paper), then really I can't see the harm in that.

If you are lying about something that you have never done, saying you can do it, then that's just ridiculous and you're very likely to be found out as being either a liar, or totally incompetent.

If you are lying about having worked somewhere in the past that you haven't, again you may well get found out, especially if they require a reference from this place.

There's nothing stopping you from embellishing your CV a bit, but don't go into the realms of fantasy.

[Norton1]

(Original post by PinkMobilePhone)
If you state that you have a qualification in a certain skill, but you don't, but you actually do have the practical experience in this skill (you just don't have it on paper), then really I can't see the harm in that.

This is a stupid thing to lie about as it's so easy to check.

[threeportdrift]

Just to be clear about what 'lying on your CV' is. If you say anything in your application (CV, covering letter, application form, interview etc) that persuades the employer to make you the job offer, and that thing is later found to be untrue, you have gained that employment fraudulently and they are able to dismiss you instantly. They can also pursue you through the courts, although in entry level jobs employers are unlikely to do this. However, in any graduate or beyond employment, employers are getting particularly aggressive about this issue, as recent news reports about prison sentences and fines have shown.

It may sound like a simple thing to 'embellish' your CV, but something that is persuasive but not true, can come back and bite you, very hard. There really aren't any circumstances that are worth it, considering the risk to your future employability if you are fired.

[Billton]

I lied when I was younger and said I worked in my Uncle's bakery, and I managed to get a job. But this was just a part-time job kind of thing. I'd never dream of lying on a professional CV now, it's reckless and the consequences should you be found out would be so detrimental to you finding another job.
Don't do it OP!

[shane1989]

You should not blatantly lie on your CV but rather "stretch the truth". It is a way of slightly exaggerating your abilities but should be done in a subtle way. You can only exaggerate to a certain point until an employer starts to question you. For example someone with a degree can't have experience as a CEO (unless it's your own company).

Qualifications should match experience and vice versa. Job description should also match the duties. For example you can't say you were an accounts assistant and then say your duties were being in charge of finance.

Grad roles are usually done by HR but professional level roles are done by the department head of what you're planning on doing. E.g. Finance roles are interviewed by either head of finance, FD or MD. These people will see right through you if you're lying.

Even retail roles are becoming much more stricter with regards to references.

[TheSownRose]

(Original post by shane1989)
For example someone with a degree can't have experience as a CEO (unless it's your own company).

Many people with degrees have experience as a CEO.

[Redheaded_Dancer]

I really wouldn't lie about having work experience to be honest with you, because they'll want to know references, and you can't provide references for jobs you've never had!

Seriously don't do it. Let's say you did get the job, and then they found out that you lied about having prior experience, they'd be unlikely to want to employ you anymore due to you being dishonest. This means that if you put them down as a reference any potential future employers would give them a ring to make sure you're not an utter douche, only to discover that you lied to get the job, meaning you wouldn't get that one.

It's not worth it, you're better off being honest and talking about qualities that make you employable and not focusing on the fact you don't have work experience.

If you want work experience, then you should probably go about doing some volunteering or something of the like. It's a good thing to do and generally quite fun and earns you brownie points with future employers, because it shows you've taken the initiative to go out and do some voluntary work before getting paid work

[canŵio]

why don't you spend the time doing some work experience instead of thinking up lies?surely you have something to put on your CV... if not, then you need to do something about that, not try and lie about it!

[Norton1]

(Original post by TheSownRose)
Many people with degrees have experience as a CEO.

I'm so pleased someone else shares my love of pedantry!

[TheSownRose]

(Original post by Norton1)
I'm so pleased someone else shares my love of pedantry!

for pedantry.

[PinkMobilePhone]

(Original post by Norton1)
This is a stupid thing to lie about as it's so easy to check.

yet many companies don't

[placenta medicae talpae]

I guess quite a lot of people tell the truth, but not the whole truth on their CV's, by missing things out.
That's probably just about okay (but I'm not advising doing it), but it sounds like your suggestion is not to tell 'nothing but the truth' ... i.e. to lie outright!
I'm sure you don't have to sink to those depths -- you probably have quite a lot of actual stuff of actual use to offer, if you think about it for a while

[Big Ern McCracken]

Do it, I lie in CVs all the time. My whole life is a sham.

[placenta medicae talpae]

(Original post by Big Ern McCracken)
Do it, I lie in CVs all the time. My whole life is a sham.

Do you also lie on TSR threads then?

[shane1989]

(Original post by TheSownRose)
Many people with degrees have experience as a CEO.

No I actually meant new grads who hold a degree. Obviously you wont have experience at CEO level when you just graduated.

[M1011]

(Original post by PinkMobilePhone)
If you state that you have a qualification in a certain skill, but you don't, but you actually do have the practical experience in this skill (you just don't have it on paper), then really I can't see the harm in that.

(Original post by PinkMobilePhone)
yet many companies don't

The point is the risks outweigh the benefits. Not to mention its morally questionable, is it just me that feels a sense of pride in securing a job? I certainly wouldn't want to get a job through lying. Terrible advise you're giving out here to be honest.

[M1011]

(Original post by shane1989)
No I actually meant new grads who hold a degree. Obviously you wont have experience at CEO level when you just graduated.

I think everyone knows what you meant, you just didn't say it