Should I lie on my CV?

[SausageSimon]

I'm currently applying for a job I really want and I need some advice

What happened is I got a job as a manager for a small business in Jan 18, the owner he decided to sell the business in June 19 and I became the owner. 5-6 months on and I've decided to look for something else

I love the job and the role, but I know there is no real career progression I feel I've done as much as I can there

Do I admit I don't want to carry on only 6 months into being the owner?
Or should I just say I have been the manager for 2 years instead?

I'd prefer to be honest but don't want to spoil my chances!

[Doyoumind]

Impossible to say without knowing more about your current role and the one you're applying for. Are you just closing down the business?

[SausageSimon]

There's a possibility I'll be able to sell the business

[forkfun]

I would normally never advise to lie on a CV, but in this instance, I think it's s good idea. You're avoiding potentially tricky questions at interview stage and you are not pretending you have skills or experience you don't have.

[Taddda]

Ah I think I get you now! Okay so you've owned the business for 6months, want to sell up because you've taken it as far as you think you can and progress on to an advancement opportunity with a new company??

[Taddda]

If that's the case I'd have to agree with @forkfun - also would not reccomend lying on a CV, but your not really, you do manage the business...

[bionicnemonic]

I can’t see what benefit there would be in lying? You may always worry you’d be found out. You can always find a way to make it a positive
‘I have really enjoyed the experience but have realised that I like working as part of a team and found the role isolated’ or some such...something that shows you have learned from it

[SausageSimon]

I should add the new role is a shop manager in a museum! I'm torn because I really don't want to lie, but I also really want the role and don't want awkward questions at the interview stage etc

[SausageSimon]

My previous employer (the business owner who employed me as manager) would also be willing to give me the reference I needed, he wouldn't have a problem if I said I was just manager there

[hauntedvagina]

Don't lie, I'm assuming you're listed on companies house as the owner... well that information is easily found on Google.

[bionicnemonic]

One whiff of a lie and they would dismiss you. It’s a responsible position. Tell them why you changed your mind and it all falls into place. You can even say ‘to be totally honest...’ even if you just like having someone else work out the wages and the pension!

[Taddda]

Your not lying, your just omitting some information in regards to ownership, your still the manager, and the previous owner will give you a reference as such? Plus it's for a manager at a museum shop, (which sounds like a lovely job btw!), your not saying your a qualified 'Chief super operating general blah blah...', your not even lying about any qualifications or at all in my eyes.
Do it, and best of luck to you!

[Taddda]

And as your only omitting certain information, if it is ever brought up, you just thought 'it wasn't relevant'- people leave things out of CV's all the time, and also taylor them to a specific role, that's not lying..

[SausageSimon]

Thank you @Taddda that's lovely of you to say!

I suppose I could say the ownership felt irrelevant as my role was manager, some owners aren't involved with the business in some cases are they!

[Redcliff]

Are you still managing the business as well as owning it? Then by saying manager you are not lying. You could put owner/manager and explain at interview?

[forkfun]

I don't list all my jobs on my CV. Some are not relevant to what I do now. It's not lying, just keeping things simpler.

[Taddda]

Only if the question is ever brought up @SausageSimon and that's the perfect answer, keep it as simple as that!
Let us know how you get on!

[thewinkingprawn]

Crikey some people get over the top about this kind of thing. Absolutely put manager - you are managing the shop. Don’t give it a second thought and good luck!

[Branster]

If your name is listed as a director of the company online then you can easily get found out. Look on companycheck or similar and see what comes up.

[ErrmWTAF]

You'd be lying enough to not get the job, or be fired from it, if they had a problem with it - I'm imagining you're listed on Companies House, as well BUT, there is an argument for simply leaving it off the CV for now and, if asked (or volunteer), laughing breezily and saying "I hadn't realised that was out of date".

...

And DO BE HONEST about why you're not continuing with the ownership - what you've said so far is great - any employer would love to hear that.

...

Heck, from what you've described already, I'd add, if I were you, "hey, if I knew 6 months ago that this position would be open, I wouldn't have bothered to buy the business. This is my dream job."

[Taddda]

Saying your CV was out of date would be a lie @ErrmWTAF...I'd imagine if it ever came up the convo would be along the lines of...

'Simon, why didnt you state on your CV that you owned the last company you worked for'
'Because my position and job title was manager, I didn't think my financial interest was relevant to the application?'
'Ok'

[framboisier]

I'm going to add a slightly different perspective - albeit from an industry that takes background checking/pre-employment screening VERY seriously.
The lie/omission itself would be relatively meaningless ... it would be the fact of lying full stop that would be an issue for me.
This calls into question trust and integrity - if you don't have anything to hide, be up front and honest and deal with the questions if you get them

[Taddda]

It is omitting certain information, but what the OP is doing is tailoring the CV to suit the position applied for, which is quite standard practice. OP is not falsifying qualifications, roles or titles- is and remains a manager (financial interest is quite irrelevant in this particular instance).
I do agree that in certain industries this is an absolute 'no go' area, I would also never encourage any blatant lies- but I see this as quite easily explained should the question arise, which I don't see it being.

[ErrmWTAF]

Is it a big lie, Taddda? not as much as what OP was originally planning.

Is it a lie at all? Well, yes, but one that I'd hope would be manageable.

[Taddda]

@ErrmWTAF (I agree, I did switch it up slightly away from the original post....). I think the OP deserves a decent shot at that Dream Job in this particular instance, which ever way is decided to go- I personally think keeping it simple with a strong reference.

[SausageSimon]

Thank you all very much for your input, I really appreciate it! I've just got in so I've been reading through all of your responses and I feel the way to go is to put manager and list all of my duties.

If in the unlikely situation ownership gets mentioned, I think it's entirely appropriate to say I didn't feel that my financial involvement was relevant as my actual day to day role was managing the business.

I wouldn't like to lie but I don't feel like this would be lying at all, just leaving out unnecessary info because being the owner isn't really relevant because I am acting as the manager day to day