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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To lie on my CV?

167 replies

MumOfTwee · 01/03/2023 22:00

My perfect job has come up. Its asking for experience at a certain type of company. I do have that experience but only was there for 6 months and left because my boss was hell on earth. AIBU go stretch out that 6 months to say a year/18 months?

No real way to check unless someone on the hiring panel knows someone who used to work at the other place, but even then it's three jobs ago so can't imagine they would check

I work in a creative industry so I'm not saving lives or doing anything specialist that would mean exaggerating experience might have any risks

Do people do this all the time?

OP posts:
soleilblue · 01/03/2023 22:01

Don't do it

FoxInSocksSatOnBlocks · 01/03/2023 22:03

You’ll get found out, so no, don’t do it.

Most people don’t lie on their CV.

HyacinthineMacaw · 01/03/2023 22:04

You might think it’s watertight now but these things have a habit of getting out. Is it worth possibly losing a job you want, and a good reference, for the sake of this lie?

If they want this amount of experience to do the job well, then you might be aiming too high based on your current experience, and not be able to fulfil the requirements. Again, this will result in a less than satisfactory experience on both sides.

Much better to always be honest, and always get jobs on merit, without the worry of your lie or inexperience finding you out.

Bluebirds1987 · 01/03/2023 22:05

If you have the experience, why do you need to lie about the amount of time? You meet the requirements. I'd not risk getting found out.

Original poster
MumOfTwee · 01/03/2023 22:05

How would anyone know how long I've worked at some random company from 8 years ago?

I won't stand a chance if I say I was only there 6 months

Do you say don't do it because its too risky or morally it's bad? Or both?

OP posts:
stepkidscopingstrategy · 01/03/2023 22:06

Stretch it out if it will make the difference in getting your dream job. Keep it realistic though. I'd say almost a year.
And what does it really matter in the long run? It's not like you're saying you can perform a certain kind of surgery. You're in the creative sector : get creative xx

Divisio · 01/03/2023 22:07
  1. They very easily could check
  2. HMRC would know how long you were there
  3. If they want that particular experience then presumably they’re related industries. So, staff cross-over may be high and they may already have staff who worked there when you’re pretending to have worked there (including hiring managers etc)
  4. If you’re claiming to have more experience than you do then you’ll look less competent if you do get the job and they’ll be less likely to retain you.
  5. Most successful candidates don’t tick every box on the job advert.
Changingplace · 01/03/2023 22:08

MumOfTwee · 01/03/2023 22:05

How would anyone know how long I've worked at some random company from 8 years ago?

I won't stand a chance if I say I was only there 6 months

Do you say don't do it because its too risky or morally it's bad? Or both?

I wouldn’t be listing a job from 8 years ago in any case, I don’t think it would be seen as relevant - can’t you just list the skills needed? If you’ve done it you’ve done it!

stepkidscopingstrategy · 01/03/2023 22:09

Everyone is holier than thou on MN.
If you know you can do the job - go for it.
Men would NOT be having this conversation. I can promise you that. I work in a 70/30 ratio of men to women.

JennyForeigner · 01/03/2023 22:09

People will come along in a minute to say you'll never get away with it and threaten the international cv fraud police. In real life, yes of course people do this kind of thing all the time.

But why put the months anyway? Just put your year/s of service for previous roles eg. Chief Creative Person 2019 or 2019-20 if you went over the new year. Or use financial year 2019-20...

Nimbostratus100 · 01/03/2023 22:10

if you get the job through lies you will never be secure - you will be living every day waiting to be sacked as soon as the fraud is discovered

BagOfDust · 01/03/2023 22:12

Morally bankrupt. However do you need to give exact dates?

MyLittlePonyWellies · 01/03/2023 22:15

I wouldn't lie about length of service. I'm sure many people have maybe exaggerated some of their experience on their CVs, but I think lying about how long you worked somewhere by adding an additional year to a 6 month stint is dodge

Dontfeedtheseagulls · 01/03/2023 22:15

Go for it.

Ignore the handwringing.

I speak as a long term senior manager...they aren't going to find out and if you're good and in other respects honest they're not particularly going to care.

MyLittlePonyWellies · 01/03/2023 22:16

I don't tend to give exact dates either though

I usually just state the years I worked there. Partly because I can't exactly remember the dates!

Maryofscots · 01/03/2023 22:16

Won't you need references? I believe references are more basic these days but length of service is one of the things they can confirm.

randomusername2020 · 01/03/2023 22:17

This reply has been withdrawn

This post has been withdrawn at the poster's request due to privacy concerns.

LuckyThatMyBreastsAreSmallAndHumble · 01/03/2023 22:20

Do it. Just don't use as a reference.

FrangipaniBlue · 01/03/2023 22:21

Just don't put the dates on 🤷🏻‍♀️

ScarlettSunset · 01/03/2023 22:23

If you have the skills, I don't think it should matter how long you were there. I'd list the job and what you gained from it, just the same as you would for others but I would not lie about it.
Why do you think you wouldn't stand a chance just because you were only there 6 months? You can gain a lot from 6.onhts and it's quite possible many other applicants won't have that experience at all.

Original poster
MumOfTwee · 01/03/2023 22:23

@Maryofscots only need two refs. My current employer - fine and one other - my old boss - also fine.

The job is from ages ago. I just don't want them to disregard that job as it was for such a short stint so I wondered about just stretching out those dates....

Also re exact dates - I could just put the year 2015 but won't that make me look suspect like I'm trying to conceal something...which I am of course! Though to be honest I'm not 100% on the exact months anyway.

OP posts:
GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 01/03/2023 22:23

I work in a creative industry and everyone knows each other. The first thing they will do is call people on the projects/companies you list. Don’t even try a blag it.

tartlets · 01/03/2023 22:24

Don't lie on a CV. You will always be looking over your shoulder.

I had a recent experience as a contractor where I found myself locked out of the business systems and there followed a snotty email telling me I'd been sacked for lying on my CV. My CV is entirely truthful and as a result I could hand on heart tell them they were spouting bullsh*t. Turns out the director was too thick to understand the word 'Aquisition' 😂 had there have been any lies on my CV I certainly couldn't have claimed the moral high ground in the way I did.

Ceryneianhind · 01/03/2023 22:25

2015 is fine, no one will look further in to it

BritInAus · 01/03/2023 22:26

Nope, don't do it. They want experience and you have it - great! I wouldn't dwell on the length of time. If pressed on why so short, I'd be honest - it wasn't the right cultural fit for you. It doesn't take a genius to know that sometimes that means 'the boss was a nightmare and I jumped as quickly as possible'

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