To ask -do you lie on your CV

[FirestarterJackie]

Well do you?

I do. Yeah I move a few jobs around, fill in some gaps nothing major

Nope. My CV is very good so no need to lie

I don't list A level or GCSE's just the subjects. No one has ever asked about them.

Also the dates by the odd month, only because some employers are obsessed with even small gaps.

Depends on the lie ... I downgraded previous experience because I was applying for a much less 'junior' position than a previous role at a fraction of the salary and I didn't want to appear "over qualified". I got the job and and have had great reviews and enjoy it so don't see any problem with not having described my previous job. I wasn't specifically asked what my previous salary was so didn't tell a deliberate lie. I phrased it as "worked in X department" rather than "managed X department".

No, I don’t need to, and I work in the public sector so background checks are likely.

I’ve never lied but definitely embellished and put myself in the ‘starring role’ when I was more of a background character really. The way I see it is, as long as I’m confident I know how to do the things in the JD, then it’s OK to embellish a little to ensure that my CV is as up to date as possible.

I actually think this kind of thing is fine. If it's a while ago then the place you're applying are unlikely to even be interested, and it takes space to explain it.

Lying about qualifications and entire jobs, gaps of years etc. is different and pointless.

So like saying you led on a project when actually someone else did and you were just involved?

If that's what you mean then it is lying, not "embellishing" or "keeping your CV up to date".

As an employer I'd be annoyed if someone said they had taken a lead on something and actually were a 'background character' - leadership skills and initiative are pretty big things to lie about.

I've had this happen and it actually does come to the surface once someone is in the workplace and they are not taking a lead on things and their 'skills' are not showing through, it's very frustrating and disappointing.

I do the GCSE thing - 10 at A*-C.

I did actually get one A star and 2 As though.

Listing every single GCSE just takes up room and nobody cares about GCSEs if you've got a Masters.

Nope. To get my job I had to pass an exam and then produce my degree certificate and job references containing exact dates before they would give me a contract. I would never have got my job, despite passing the exam, if I couldn't support the claims in my CV.

II have about tiny things, like addresses of places that I worked as a teenager (that no longer exist) in the 80s ...only because I literally can't remember and they no longer exist 🤷‍♀️ I

I've also lied about dates of those sorts of jobs...where the firms have asked for day/month/year. How on earth would I recall the actual date of the time I worked as a 'part time shop assistant in the local baby shop that my mum saw the advert in the window for sometime in around 1981' - when I had just left school and was farting around deciding if I even wanted to go to uni 🤷‍♀️

Yes.

I put better GCSE grades than I actually got, but I'm not sure they're relevant now anyway and I would probably take them off (if I haven't already, it's been a long time since I've needed my CV).

If you have gaps in your CV you can easily explain there by saying you took time off to:

• travel
• deal with health issues
• do a course
• relocate to a new city
• care for children or a family member
• start a business that did not work out
• temp (in which case you don't need to list every little contract you have had, just that you spent some time temping)

As. manager I have interviewed many people for roles at various levels over the years and the above explanation have been used to explain gaps in their CVs and are perfectly reasonable.

Other people have told me they started a new job that just was not for them and then had to start their job search again to explain a gap of a few months.

These things happen. Not everyone has a ''perfect'' CV.

Also many people exaggerate their achievements in CVs and at the interview.

What I would not lie about is qualifications, especially if they are required for a role, and also making up experience you really don't have.

Because if you start a job and you just can't deliver because you lied about having the necessary experience then that is not going to end well.

In the end if you know you can do the job well I don't see any harm in being a bit creative with your CV.

No, someone I know has a job because the first person appointed had done this. It was picked up in pre-employment checks. Checks are much more rigorous than they used to be.

They really don't, I have zero need to lie about anything and I'd say that the majority are the same. Why do u think everyone does?

No. And if I found we'd appointed someone who had lied on their CV I would be making sure they failed probation.

No. And if I found we'd appointed someone who had lied on their CV I would be making sure they failed probation.

NoNot but are you talking about scenarios where the candidate exaggerates their qualifications or skills? What about in the example I gave ... where I didn't put that I'd 'managed' the department....just that I'd been part of it. Do you consider 'dumbing down' your CV equally 'a lie'. Years ago my DM was turned down for a Christmas temp job at M & S .... she was livid about it but her CV clearly showed she'd had very senior management experience and the feedback was that she was 'over qualified'. In that case is it acceptable to describe your experience differently?

Way back in my first job in late 90s, a HR manager was escorted off the premises for lying about having some professional qualification. Really shoddy. (And stupid). Never felt the need to Google him and hope it really came to haunt him.

so interesting that people put their GCSEs and A-levels on their CV. I’m 37 and took my school qualifications/grades off years ago. I got very good grades, but I’ve since done a degree and masters, which seem more relevant, and a professional qualification (which also isn’t in my CV). And a career going back 15 years so there isn’t room. I also don’t include part-time jobs I had during school/university, because they don’t seem relevant.

No. Never have.
I once felt bad as I put I held x position. I did hold that position but had only had it for a week which I obviously didn’t make clear. Had an interview a couple of weeks later and think they’d assumed I’d been at that level the whole time I’d worked for the company. I didn’t put them right but I also never lied.

No, only thing I am selective with is the achievements in previous jobs and what I list as interests and hobbies.

Because we don't all have degrees @workflowers

I had a couple of jobs that only lasted 2-3 weeks as temp fill in roles, I leave them off.

I did once in Australia to join an agency that supplies staff to horse racing events and AFL games. It was mostly bar work and I said I had pub experience when I didn’t. I probably would have got the job even if I didn’t lie though, they seemed to take on everyone.

I never lied on my CV to get a job I needed to keep though. I don’t need to anymore.

I don't lie on my cv but I do lie about my current salary if asked. I always up it.