To lie on CV to get a job

[arrivedbysaucer]

I haven't worked since 1999 due to mostly being unsuccessful at interviews and if I have been offered jobs I usually get fired as soon as the employers realise I have no organisation skills, time awareness, no ability to focus or complete tasks or attention to detail or in fact attention for anything.
I take medication for inattentive ADHD but the problem is I also have social anxiety because of this, which I have had cbt for but found most of this to be about self acceptance which I feel I have accepted myself and how I'm not the same as everyone else but it's not acceptable by everyone else to be the way I am so not very helpful, I'm also very socially awkward.

If I was to write the above on a CV it's almost certain I would not be invited in for an interview so would I be unreasonable to lie on my CV and say I can do all of those things when really I can't just to get the job and if asked for examples in an interview to just invent things?

Social anxiety is a fear of being judged which is exactly what an interview is, someone judging you so it's difficult but If I don't lie about who I am and waste employers time and resources I will get sanctioned by the job centre.

My youngest is turning 3 soon and I will then be expected to look for work as dh is on minimum wage.
My eldest is 20 now so I've been a SAHM for most of my life so have no experience or qualifications as my school grades were F's and
G 's and I failed at college.
I have two sons 2 and 20 the eldest lives with his fiancée so I just have the little one at home now.

Do I have much choice but to lie if I ever want to get an interview?

I wouldn't lie because they'll ask for references etc.

I'd recommend volunteering somewhere for a few hours a week where you'll get the experience you need for a job e.g. in a charity shop and it'll hopefully build your confidence.

I wish you all the luck!

You don't have to disclose medical information on a CV and for any screening questions on application forms such as "do you consider yourself to have an illness or disability requiring adjustments in the workplace?" you have the option of answering it with "prefer not to say".

As you have a diagnosis, an employer will be obliged to make reasonable adjustments for you. I would say that finding the right job for you first will be the best way around rather than lying as you will get found out and it will cause even more stress and will affect your self esteem and confidence.

What jobs are you looking for?

Are any of these things where a potential employer could make reasonable adjustments at interview and then during employment that would enable you to perform in a role?

I think you need to focus on getting some help to develop strategies to support organisation, time keeping etc. Not everyone who is neurotypical is naturally good at these things, they develop methods such as using checkists, reminders on their phone. Maybe looking for some tips on this would help you feel more confident in a work situation. Volunteering will definitely help too, some volunteer opportunities are aimed at helping people get skills for work and help with mock interviews etc as well as ready to work skills. Good luck, hope you find the right support to succeed in a job you love.

To be honest even if you lie and say you can do that sort of stuff with not having worked for 21 years you're going to struggle. Especially now with hundreds of people going for one job. Could you do something like some computer qualifications (do they still do ECDL) and join a temping agency? It's a great way of getting some experience which makes you look more attractive to employers....and for me it's led to 2 permanent jobs in the past.

If you lie on your CV and they find out, which you will as you won’t be able to do the fundamentals of a role, they will sack you. That won’t help you move forward or manage your disability.

In an interview they also ask competency based questions which you have to answer with examples of where you have demonstrated that particular aspect of the role. You won’t be able to do and also won’t be able to satisfy the referee criteria either.

I agree with what another poser said about volunteering and just being in an environment where you will gain those skills in the short term.

Would going back to college be an option for you? There are adult numeracy and literacy classes available and you’ll also get access to other support networks there to help you with your future career.

Where are you from op? There is a routes to work organisation that specialises in getting those with disabilities into work, no matter how minor, they build your cv on the tasks you are good at and offer incentives to employers to keep you on and help work with your needs.

I know this is available in Scotland but not to sure about the rest of the UK..

But don’t lie on a cv as you will likely be sacked before probation ends if they are expecting more.

Ignore the typos - I hate my phone!

I took a job in a lettings head office, but they showed me the system on the computer many times and it just went straight over my head so I just "looked busy" for a while until until they sacked me for not having produced any work.

I worked in a restaurant briefly but I couldn't remember all the add ons people wanted and just when someone would ask for some sauce or something someone else would stop me and ask something else and I'd get side track and lose focus, or I'd take some of the dinners out and get side tracked by another customer and not remember to get the rest of the meals so got fired.

I worked in a couple of other offices too but had no idea what I was meant to be doing and people get fed up showing me over and over while I stare at them blankly.

It won’t work OP. The “best case” scenario is that you’ll get a job and then lose that job because the underlying issues are still there. Work on addressing those, as others have said.

Agree with the above poster about adult literacy and numeracy classes. There’s a course called Functional Skills for English and Mathematics which is equivalent to grade c GCSEs that many colleges offer for free in my area. They also fo GCSE maths and English for free but you can build up to that if you wish.

Have you done any courses in the last 20yrs? Have you volunteered anywhere? What type of job are you looking for? There is a womens skills centre near me who help women get back into work and run various courses. have you checked what is in your local area.

You have skills of raising children and must have time mamangement skills to be able to feed/dres them, get them to school on time etc. Raising children is a full time job in itself.

My brother has ADHD and got a job via a skills centre which helped people with disabilities get into work. Have you checked if there are any support programs/places near you?

You need to think about what sort of work you are capable of doing. There’s no point lying to get a job and then getting sacked because you aren’t able to do the job. It sounds like customer service or office roles are just aren’t going to work for you. Have you tried factory work? Farm work? Cleaning?

I would think about what job would suit the skills you do have (and you can work on what you don't have) it sounds like you need something very in the moment that doesn't get too much interruption/alteration, how about working on a check out/shop? Can you drive and do something like Hermes as you can work independently (although that could be quite time pressured)

It doesn't have to be a job for life but just to build up your confidence and skills.

Volunteering could be a really good way to do this, libraries often have volunteers, but I appreciate that doesn't help you immediately.

Why not get a cleaning job and carry a list of things to be checked off when you have done them, as you are obviously not suited to office or front of house type work.

I think it’s the fear of making a mistake or not understanding that makes you lose focus OP. Can you work on that fear? Not sure if mindfulness or CBT would help with that?

I really feel for you op. I used to work in recruitment and if you were honest on your CV about your struggles I would take a chance on you.

Would it help to write steps down how to use operating systems until you get used to it (like in the letting agency example), or write orders down in a waitressing job? Maybe you just need extra support such as shadowing an experienced colleague for a while.

Having a job can be brilliant and give you a real sense of worth. Good luck with it all, you can do it!

As far as I'm aware, lying on your CV is classed as fraud. I believe a solicitor went to prison for doing this. Build up your volunteering experience and use much of the free help available for your CV, including Citizens Advice. Everybody is good at something and you will have lots of skills from parenting that will be transferable. Take small steps towards each goal.

I’m sorry to be brutal but you can’t lie. Your referees won’t be able to lie for you, and setting up a web of deception isn’t the best way to start a working relationship, especially if, from what you say, it’ll be discovered very quickly.

There are plenty of places where reasonable adjustments can be made for disabilities, but you need to disclose them to get the advantage. I’d be looking at public sector employers, since they are bound by processes to ensure fairness and equal opportunities. If you disclose, then you will be guaranteed interviews in many public sector organisations.

However, you’ll still need to demonstrate that you can do the job with reasonable adjustments in place. Without a track record you’re going to find that very hard.

I think that previous posters are right, and you need to build up a record of voluntary work, or recent qualifications, to show employers you have the skills (given adjustments) that they need.

OP, rather than focusing on the things you’re not good at, think about what you are good at, and then perhaps look for jobs which are more likely to include those skills.

There’s a fine line between lying and not disclosing something on a job application. If you don’t mention your disability you’re not lying, but you’re not disclosing it either, which is permitted, but if they ask you your reasons for leaving your previous jobs (and many will,) then you can’t lie about that.

Do bear in mind that lying on a job application is grounds for instant dismissal.

Who do you intend to use as references? Most employers will only ask for references within the past ten years so previous employers aren’t likely to be contacted.

I don’t actually agree that volunteering will give you more current experience, in my experience and that of many others I know, companies don’t take people who have volunteered seriously any more, mostly because everyone does it. Also, you’re in an employer’s market so they will likely be more inclined to hire someone with up to date experience.

What I would say though is that volunteering will give you more of a chance to build your confidence, and while you’re volunteering perhaps you can focus on the skills you have and see how you can apply those to a work situation.

I feel your pain. I’ve been looking for work now for years, have been a SAHM for the past eighteen years, have a disability and also was diagnosed with a serious illness four years ago. Things have improved and I was offered a job in October but it was withdrawn in April due to my disability, so now I’m back in a market where 85% of people with my disability are unemployed and the world is looking for work.

It is hideous out there.

I know you said you already take medication, but by the sounds of it you're barely functioning in the real world, so i think it's worth going back to your GP and reevaluating your prescription. You should also ask if there's anything they can give you to help with your anxiety.

You need to address the issues that keep getting you fired. Otherwise you'll just lie your way into a bunch of jobs you can't keep and will stack up a bunch of negative references and likely an industry reputation.

Also, your local council will likely have a focus on employment and you will be able to access help. If you live in social housing, your provider will probably have a route to work scheme. Very best of luck

Definitely do some volunteering work, not only will you gain skills and experience it will also help to boost your confidence plus you will get a reference out of it.

Remploy has a disability guide with sections on supporting employees with ADHD and anxiety: www.remploy.co.uk/employers/resources