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Lying on your CV

Hello,

I've started to prepare for job seeking! I've written a CV with the help of others. Then my boyfriend's mum offered to review it (which is great 'cause she looks at CVs and interviews people at her work!), but she said that most places would toss me aside because I have no work experience (other than looking after kids occasionally). So, she said I should lie on my CV and say that I've worked for her partner's business.

But I don't feel comfortable with this at all. I got the impression from her that there's no hope in hell for me when it comes to getting a job, unless I say I've done more than I actually have. She also told me that this is really common, everyone lies on their CVs and so it's fine.

I just wondered, is it true that lots of people lie on their CVs? I thought people would just lie about their skills perhaps but not their actually experience. I just can't imagine advising someone to lie about something like that, especially if it could backfire or if you're caught out by displaying that you don't really have the experience you claimed to have.

Reply 1

CookieArun

14

You can lie on your CV, but to a certain extent.

Reply 2

Arctic_wombaT

1

dont lie, stretch the truth :awesome:

Reply 3

Malsy

18

if youre having doubts i wouldn't do it. just stretch the truth on things you actually have done.

Feel free to put your CV up on the CV Help thread and get some advice that won't include lying! There is no reason at all that not having had a job before means you can't show experience. You can get transferable skills from a variety of places.

It's not fine to lie on a CV, if you get found out then it is justification for instant dismissal and you'll never work for that company again, nor quite likely anyone who knows you lie on your CV.

Reply 5

JCM89

13

It's not worth ruining your reputation.

Reply 6

Fawn

12

If this other woman is willing to vouch for you as a reference....then what's the problem?

Reply 7

Heir-Head

It worked for Lee off the Apprentice.

Reply 8

reems23

If you lie, learn your lie.

Reply 9

Ghost

20

Jazmine

Hello,

I've started to prepare for job seeking! I've written a CV with the help of others. Then my boyfriend's mum offered to review it (which is great 'cause she looks at CVs and interviews people at her work!), but she said that most places would toss me aside because I have no work experience (other than looking after kids occasionally). So, she said I should lie on my CV and say that I've worked for her partner's business.

But I don't feel comfortable with this at all. I got the impression from her that there's no hope in hell for me when it comes to getting a job, unless I say I've done more than I actually have. She also told me that this is really common, everyone lies on their CVs and so it's fine.

I just wondered, is it true that lots of people lie on their CVs? I thought people would just lie about their skills perhaps but not their actually experience. I just can't imagine advising someone to lie about something like that, especially if it could backfire or if you're caught out by displaying that you don't really have the experience you claimed to have.

And get an unfair advantage over the other honest people applying for the same jobs? Eugh, no.

Reply 10

Ben77mc

14

Very Serious Poster

Nah, it would crease it up

xD

Reply 11

cactus kid :)

2

It's probably a bad idea, they might ask you about your time working for this other company and then you would be screwed cos you wouldn't have a clue.

Reply 12

56gs47qr0ghe9454fe268st

10

Ghost

And get an unfair advantage over the other honest people applying for the same jobs? Eugh, no.

When I'm looking for a job playing fair doesn't really come into it. Either you get the job or you have to live on £50 a week.

Reply 13

Flying Cookie

19

Arctic_wombaT

dont lie, stretch the truth :awesome:

Yeah, stretch the truth. Surely, that involves taking full responsibility for "stretching the truth". It works sometimes.

Reply 14

Ghost

20

....

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 15

56gs47qr0ghe9454fe268st

10

Ghost

Exaggerating the truth isn't uncommon for CVs, and is quite acceptable. For example, if you just stood beside a new guy who was operating the EPOS for the first time, making sure he didn't **** it up, you could call that "Supervising and training of new staff with shop floor equipment". That's selling yourself.

Blatantly LYING on your CV is an entirely different matter. Writing down experience which quite simply doesnt exist is essentially fraud, and is disgusting when other people genuinely do work hard to get a good CV.

I think she should just go do some work experience at her mums partners firm and then put that down tbh.

Reply 16

shorty.loves.angels

16

threeportdrift

Feel free to put your CV up on the CV Help thread and get some advice that won't include lying! There is no reason at all that not having had a job before means you can't show experience. You can get transferable skills from a variety of places.

It's not fine to lie on a CV, if you get found out then it is justification for instant dismissal and you'll never work for that company again, nor quite likely anyone who knows you lie on your CV.

Definitely use the CV help on TSR!! threeportdrift helped me so much I've so far been offered 2 interviews from 5 applications - and this is the first time I've ever applied for a real job.

Agreeing with others, don't lie, just think of all the things you wouldn't consider to be significant which actually contribute to the job you're applying for. I thought of a lot once I'd had hints and examples.

Any jobs, voluntary work, favours, chores you've done will usually include some skills which are transferable to other jobs :smile: