APU Careers Careers & Learning

5 Ways to Avoid a Big Fib on Your Resume

lying-resume-ethicsBy J. Mason
Online Career Tips Editor

Sometimes to get ahead people may feel the need to lie about their performance. Whether that’s in relation to their job, life, or personality is irrelevant. Lying is a form of betrayal, and in some cases this betrayal can be the kiss of death for the relationship. Before resorting to even a white lie there are some things to consider, and there are in fact ways to avoid doing it in the first place.

When you insert a lie into your resume there is a big change that you’ll get caught. Take for example Steve Masiello, he fibbed about his college experience and was in turn placed on leave from his position of head coach after just obtaining a highly coveted coaching position with the University of South Florida’s basketball team. They discovered that his time spent at Kentucky was in fact false and he’s on leave for an undetermined amount of time for it. There is speculation around why he chose to lie on his resume about his educational experience, and that is that he did it to get ahead. When it comes to ethics, is lying the best way to get noticed even if you think you’re more than qualified for the job? What wasn’t possibly considered was the loads of other qualified candidates vying for that same position who in fact did have the correct requirements. Cheating to win shouldn’t be your mantra, but it’s understandable why there’s temptation to fib in order to put yourself ahead.

Being assertive is one of the best ways to beat out your competition. In sports it isn’t always the strongest, quickest, or tallest that succeed. In fact, the most inspiring athletes are those that have overcome obstacles and proven their talent through intelligence and perseverance. Regardless of the field you work in there are mental and physical ways around the more dominating prospects that you see as your competition.

For example, there are a few immediate things you can do to separate yourself from the group:

  1. Include unique tasks and trainings when you don’t have a graduate degree. This can include certifications you received at a previous position, title advancements based on specific projects, and any experience with technical products like Adobe Creative Suite.
  2. Front load your resume with valued skills related to the job you’re applying for. You can find these keywords by doing a quick search for that position through sites like Monster and Glassdoor. Some companies have a screening process looking for certain words, so make sure to pay close attention to those words in the job description.
  3. Overhaul your LinkedIn presence with more recommendations and endorsements. It may also be a good time to do a little more networking. You can look at becoming a LION, or simply reach out to people you used to work with. Remember though, quality over quantity.
  4. Include a link to your LinkedIn page along with your contact information. It has become pretty standard for the employer to view your social presence before interviewing, so be transparent about this profile in your resume.
  5. Don’t compare yourself to others, but research industry norms to see where you fit in. Having unrealistic expectations for the position you think you deserve can cause you to lie subconsciously. Remove that temptation by giving yourself a dose of reality.

Another way to keep yourself in check is by employing a close friend to review your resume, or a friend who is a part of the industry you wish to enter. They will probably know your experience best and will be the first to question erroneous information when they see it.

Create realistic expectations up front, but don’t be afraid to “swing for the fences.” Life is about taking risks, just don’t risk losing a great position because of a fib.

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