lied/exaggerated about experience to get a job.......

[SugarMouse1]

Hi there,

I hope I'm not going to be too flamed for this, but it honestly seemed like the obvious thing to do as I get nowhere by being completely honest in job applications/interviews.

The job is as a sports receptionist. I lied about doing it as a job before when I had done it as A SMALL PART of a job before, if that makes sense??

Anyway, I really hope it won't be obvious that I don't know what i'm doing, eek!

Any sports receptionists out there???

[CecilyP]

I think that, as long as you are confident about being able to do the job if you are selected, it is not unreasonable to lie overemphasise the experience you have had.

[bradywasmyfavouriteking]

there is a difference between a bit of embellishment and lying.

[50BalesOfHay]

If you're competent you'll be fine and you'll pick it up quickly enough. If you're not then tough shit if you get caught out.

[SugarMouse1]

I guess realistically maybe a lot of people lie about it in order to get jobs?

[SchrodingersSexKitten]

what is a sports receptionist?

[SugarMouse1]

50-

Well, obviously I intend to try my best to pick it up and do a good job!

[SugarMouse1]

Schrodingers-

Receptionist in a sports/leisure/health club complex

[Greythorne]

I should think you will be fine.

It's not like you have exaggerated your experience in the field of neuroscience :)

[expatinscotland]

It's not like someone's going to die if you fail in this line of work. If it gets you the job, and you're competent, well, hey, you need to make a living.

[SugarMouse1]

Thanks, everyone!

TBH, I don't know why more young people who are unemployed don't just try this and lie in order to get jobs!

Might as well! If you get caught, you get caught, if not you have a job!!!!

[Floggingmolly]

More people don't do this because there's a high chance you'll be found out. Do you really expect them to just take your word for it, and not check references?
Have you actually got the job?

[SugarMouse1]

You'd be surprised actually, at the amount of places that don't properly check references.

Or you can get a friend to pose as a reference.

So what if you are found out? You are just back where you started anyway?

I haven't got the job yet, but got called for interview today, fingers crossed.

[QuanticoVirginia]

If you lie about qualifications though that are required for the job it is a criminal offence eg saying you have a degree when you don't for a job that requires one.
So do be careful

[Fairylea]

Go for it. I worked in recruitment and I think nearly everyone exaggerated experience on cvs to get jobs. I did it myself.

[merlottits]

I think people do lie. Do you think you have discovered the cure to unemployment?

Interviews these days are often designed to test your knowledge.
In my area - nursing/health care - I would ask scenario based questions which would easily show up liars. I would ask them to describe current legislation and current ethical dilemmas. You can't easily blag that.

If the interviewer was trusting enough to take you on your word then lucky you, more fool them.

[Morph2]

you've just over exagerrated what you've done as you've done as a small part of a job before.

If you get the job and are able to do it well then i can't see that the employer would even be bothered, they just want someone who can do the job well.

Saying that a few times at work we've had people exagerate about previous work experience (i work in accountancy) and then when they started the job they weren't up to the level they said they were so couldn't actually manage the work they were given. I don't think some people concentrate so much on bigging themselves up in the interview they don't seem to consider they won't actually be able to do the work if they get the job!!

[MrsTerryPratchett]

Well, you could get sacked when they find out and have a gap with no acceptable reference. That could happen. FWIW, I don't care if people embellish a tad, I do care if people lie and are not qualified to do their jobs.

[ilovesooty]

Well, you could get sacked when they find out and have a gap with no acceptable reference. That could happen. FWIW, I don't care if people embellish a tad, I do care if people lie and are not qualified to do their jobs

And meanwhile people who are better qualified fail to get the jobs gained by dishonest people. The OP is naive if she doesn't realise there can be repercussions: she seems to say she's exaggerated rather than actually lied but it's possible for dishonesty to lead not only to dismissal but to prosecution for fraud.

[ilovesooty]

Or you can get a friend to pose as a reference

I know someone who did that. They both lost their jobs as a result.

[EuroShagmore]

It's fraud - obtaining a pecuniary advantage by deception. I would get struck off my professional register for that. Realistically the worst that will probably happen to you is that they find out and you get sacked. It's not something I would ever do but each to their own.

[twolittlebundles]

I have just had to pick up the pieces from an employee who lied/exaggerated skills on CV and during the interviews (2 of them). In a matter of months this person managed to cause incredible damage to my business because they didn't know what they were doing, and covered up mistakes they made because they didn't feel they could admit to lying/exaggerating their skill and experience level.

It has cost me time, sleep and tens of thousands of dollars. We did thorough checks into the person before we hired and could find nothing worrying. Until the person confessed (in their final two weeks) that they had lied- we were baffled as to why someone purporting to have certain skills and experience was not able to do the job. They were in an admin role and the bad surprises that they have left behind just keep coming- for a small business it has been devastating.

In short- it's a fraudulent approach to getting a job and can pose a threat to your job and potentially harm other people too- depending on how much harm is caused.

OP- I hope you can do the job as well as you think you can.

[ShellyBoobs]

TBH, I don't know why more young people who are unemployed don't just try this and lie in order to get jobs!

Well, it could be because they're not incredibly fucking dishonest?

Or because it's deception?

Who knows...

[expatinscotland]

She's a receptionist in a gym/leisure centre, people! C'mon, it's not a hard job that's going to mean the business goes down the pan. Most people can handle such a job just fine.

It's stupid to even require a CV or references for a job like this, IMO.

[Floggingmolly]

But they are required, Expat. And she hasn't actually got the job yet...

[TroublesomeEx]

It's stupid to even require a CV or references for a job like this, IMO.

Why?

The employers will still want to know whether a candidate can turn up on time; is conscientious; conducts themselves in a professional manner; is reliable; is trustworthy.