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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to blatantly lie on my CV to get a job?

108 replies

IWannaJob · 09/05/2011 21:29

Can't see any other way to get one tbh! I have applied for numerous jobs in my home town over the last few weeks and have not even had acknowledgements that they've received my applications Angry.

I live near London and my plan is to apply for jobs there (temporary roles first) which I did not want to do but needs must (will be a 90 min commute each way and will probably cost around £350 per month in travel costs at least Shock). If I had current experience, I could get a highly paid position there but I don't as I left my last job 2 years ago after being bullied at work by my boss. The company would not do anything about it as he was the Chairman and I was told to accept it, as 'that's just the way he is, don't take it personally' or leave. I finally gave in after 2 years, loosing my self confidence and any thoughts that I may be good at my job along with it (I was very good btw). Depression and demoralisation then set in and I have not worked since. I had good grounds for a tribual but could'nt face it. I have recovered from that now and am very enthusiastic about working again.

I know the fact I have not worked for a while is probably one of the reasons I have not had any replies to my job applications.

Therefore I have a cunning plan to lie on my CV. I won't go into what I am going to lie about but it will hard for any employer to check. They may decide not to give me a job as they will not get a recent reference but that is a risk I will take. I have nothing to loose at this time. I am a hard worker and quick learner so want an opportunity to prove myself which I am not going to get with my current CV.

So AIBU in wanting to provide for my family (have 4 DCs btw and Dh works all the hours god sends but we cannot manage on one wage any more)and tell a lie which will hurt no one in the process. If the employer is not happy with my work, they can get rid of me right?

OP posts:
springbokscantjump · 09/05/2011 21:51

So when in your OP you said that you wanted to "tell a lie which will hurt no one in the process" that was actually just bullshit to try and getting people on your side? Because you do know that someone else will suffer as they won't get the job you just don't care?

minxofmancunia · 09/05/2011 21:55

OTT in your frame of reference not in mine.

Dishonesty, nepotism, favouritism and unfairness are things that really bug me particularly related to work. I have been bullied at work too, severely, the people that bullied me were dishonest w**kers. I still haven't let it affect my integrity, I will always be honest.

If i were you I'd look for temp work, shine at it and hopefully land a full time position.

jenga079 · 09/05/2011 21:56
claire201 · 09/05/2011 21:56

You will get found out. I was a recruitment consultant for five years and I and my colleagues always could tell the liars, you will have no idea what questions you will be asked at interview and will balls it up if you are lying, and if you think this isnt the case you are extremely arrogant. Not only that but recruiters no countless employers and word will get round faster than you can imagine, especially if you do something skilled. Lie on you cv at your peril!!

AuntiePickleBottom · 09/05/2011 21:57

yabu, the person who may have lost out on the job maybe in a worse finacal situation than you.

ggirl · 09/05/2011 21:57

loosing
could'nt

ilovesooty · 09/05/2011 21:57

And "losing" not "loosing" and "lose" not "loose". Well, you did ask.

And lying on your CV is immoral and wrong.

5Foot5 · 09/05/2011 22:04

"Because you do know that someone else will suffer as they won't get the job you just don't care?"

But surely anyone applying for any job, even with a 100% honest CV, is in a competition with the other candidates. The successful candidate for the job can hardly be expected to be all downcast for the others?

So OK the issue here is that the OP won't be 100% truthful but I think it it impossible to be too judgy unless you know the nature of the lie. Obviously lying about her fitness for the job, e.g. by exaggerating qualifications or experience, is defintiely wrong. But if the OP is actually confident that they are very capable and qualified for the job but may be rejected for some wholly unrelated reaosn, like why she has not been in paid employment for 2 years, then I think it is more understandable.

ManicMarie · 09/05/2011 22:06

minxofmancunia

I have been bullied at work too,

I wonder why that was!!

HellNoSayItAintSo · 09/05/2011 22:07

Doesn't everyone lie on their CV? I thought it was practically obligatory.

But yes, poor spelling will give you away.

minxofmancunia · 09/05/2011 22:09

manicmarie I don't quite "get" your post??

Original poster
IWannaJob · 09/05/2011 22:10

Well how do I know that half of the other candidates have not lied as well?

I would not be lying about my ability to do a job or professional qualifications. I would never apply for a job I was not confident I could do and if I could not do what was expected of me, I would expect to be sacked. It would be just the gap in employment.

Even temporay roles need current experience.

Will work on my punctuation then, but I was in rather a rush!

OP posts:
Original poster
IWannaJob · 09/05/2011 22:15

minx but life is unfair. I worked hard to get my last position. How did I know I was going to be working with an arse? Later found out that my post had to be advertised every year more or less as no one could stand working with the guy. Feel like I was deceived there too!

OP posts:
baabaapinksheep · 09/05/2011 22:16

Actually it was the way you spelt lose/ losing, hadn't noticed the 'big words'

springbokscantjump · 09/05/2011 22:21

OK going to take a breath. I can understand why you feel the need to lie, honestly I do. This just seems to press a button for me. I don't expect people to feel sorry for people who they are competing against for a job, but I certainly wouldn't be able to hold my head up if I knew that I had lied on my CV in order to get that job.

It might be that I am leaping to the worst conclusion about what you are going to lie about. I took this to mean that you were going to pretend that you were employed during this last two years, rather than the reason for your leaving your last job. If it is the latter, I'm sorry I can understand why you're doing it & personally don't think it is any future employers business. But if it is the former, then nope I stick to my outrage. But I might be completely naive about how things work outside of my own field and this might be commonplace.

GloriaSmut · 09/05/2011 22:25

"I am aware of the instant dismissal if i was found out at a later date but, again, that is a risk I am prepared to take"

So how is the instant dismissal that you are prepared to risk going to enhance your CV in future? Unless you plan on making yourself permanently unemployable, that is.

I've done a lot of recruitment and selection and I can assure you that liars never prosper. Neither do they fool anyone. So I'd seriously advise taking some temporary posts and building your CV up from there.

theidsalright · 09/05/2011 22:26

everyone is getting treated like this by employers right now-relevant up to date experience or not.

YABU in thinking that this makes you different.

MercurySoccer · 09/05/2011 22:30

YABU and selfish.

MisSalLaneous · 09/05/2011 22:31

This is stealing, of course. So, if you feel justified to go into a shop and steal something because it would make your family's life easier (note easier, not even for survival), then I can understand how you can't see how this is wrong.

The best advise I can give is that you get a better sounding reason why you didn't work. Never, ever say anything negative about your ex employers. Be positive, say you stopped working to do xxx (children / study / travel etc), you've achieved yyyy (hobbies are fine, or children older etc), and you are very excited to start doing what you love and what you're good in. To lie about it, however, says something about you as a person. Sorry if this sounds harsh. Maybe you just didn't think this through, but really, you will be stealing a role from a well deserving person if the only reason you got it was because of your fictional experience.

As mentioned before, if you don't get it honestly, a contract role for a couple of months would be a good idea. I've done it before, and there are upsides, one being the higher rates compared to permanent positions.

edam · 09/05/2011 22:32

Depends on the lie. Finessing the reason for leaving your last job - to take a career break while your children were very young instead of 'I hated every minute of it and they wanted me to go' is fine (as long as you weren't actually sacked because they can check that). Find people who can give you character references for the last two years and maybe a previous employer from before the very last one? Have you done any voluntary work - being on the playgroup committee counts, for instance?

But be careful about leaving your last job out entirely - you'll need a P45 and that gives details of your last employer, IIRC. Just choose a reference from someone else.

MisSalLaneous · 09/05/2011 22:39

One extra thing to note in your job search: Many applicants have decent enough CVs, but a rushed covering letter. Often you've got 20 CVs looking the same, but the cover letter can make one stand out. Ignore me if you're already doing this.

Primlico · 09/05/2011 22:42

Lie, lie, lie and lie. If you can get away with it, do it. There are different kinds of lies. Lying that you went to Oxford or have a qualification is dishonest and a discredit to those who are legitimate. However, lying about how you have spent some time is simply company politics. You're not lying in a criminal court case, you're lying to a nebulous corporation or organisation that will think nothing of firing you if its strategy or finance change. If you are able to lie convincingly, you demonstrate a skill of confidence and complex thinking, and these are of high value in the work world. There is massive bias in hiring, looks, friends, age, if you want to cover up a gap with a mild lie then ignore the smug received-wisdom prevalent in this thread and tell a fib.

FabbyChic · 09/05/2011 22:46

I will go against the majority. If it means you can get a job do it.

Good luck in your endeavours.

It's a dog eat dog world out their in the job market, and I for one am not putting on my C.V that I have had a nervous breakdown and mental health issues in the last two years.

MisSalLaneous · 09/05/2011 22:46

Primlico, making up work related experience, fabricating an employer and recent experience, is different to lying about how private time was spent though, surely. Work experience often counts as much as qualifications, especially if you were qualified a long time ago and have years of experience. I can, therefore, not see how lying about qualifications is worse. Both are very wrong.

Original poster
IWannaJob · 09/05/2011 22:51

Explain how it is stealing FFS. Like stealing from a shop -laughable and bloody ridiculous Hmm. I expect to EARN every penny I make.

Thank you Primlico. Thats my way of thinking too.

OP posts: