To think she's being delusional?

[Chattenoire]

I have an acquaintance whom I've helped with her LinkedIn profile / CV. Quite frankly it's all made up, but she was getting desperate. When I mean made up she said she is the VP of Marketing for a big Spanish jewellery company that used Kylie as their ambassador :/

The whole idea was that these companies were based in Spain so any British company would be more far removed and thus "safe".

Anywho, a headhunter got in touch with her about a CMO role for a Spanish fashion company. She's super excited and thinks she can do the job (as much as I believe in fake it til you make it this is a giant leap) and also hopes they'll let her stay in LatAm where she's currently residing. Again the whole point was that she wanted to move back to the UK not Spain.

I've told her it's a terrible idea to go ahead with the process given the context, she's just called me a negative Nancy .

You've cautioned her; it's up to her now, so let her get on with it. More fool the company if they hire her without due diligence; if she can't do the job it will soon be apparent. It sounds as though she isn't set on moving to the UK - is she British?

I mean you are right to have reservations and it’s not something I would do.

I don’t think she can expect you to be super-excited and validate her risky choices. But you should let her forge her own path. Maybe disengage a bit.

It might work out for her, stranger things have happened.

She's not, but her DD lives and she has ILR (the step before citizenship) she wants to move back with a job in hand, which does sound reasonable.

Has she stated she has certain qualifications during the recruitment process? For example filled in an application form or sent a CV stating she has X, Y, Z qualifications? It's entirely possible she may be asked for certificates to prove this? If she's stated she's worked for a company in a particular role, surely the potential employer may want a reference?!!! She's clearly hoping they won't check out her credentials!! Unfortunately, it's common practice for people to lie or embellish their experience/qualifications on LinkedIn!! So the company would be foolish to take anything as gospel, stated on there, without checking! You've warned her; if she gets found out, that's on her.

Let her crack on. She’ll be busted first interview and more fool the business that hires her if not.

does she even have any experience in marketing?!

Maybe? I don't think she lied about her education (she has a masters in MKT).

She started studying for something around UX design and started to develop a virtual designer boutique.

I also told her that made zero sense to me, because when I go to that sort of shop I line the whole experience (including drinks, chocolate, etc..) but I digress.

I think her logic is that because (metaphorically speaking) she had a village dance school, she could lead the Royal Ballet.

That’s not marketing, and certainly not CMO level.

Got to admire her ambition though!

Fake it until you make it is all well and good but obtaining employment by a complete fraud is a step too far. Hyping your CV, ie putting that you trained a team member on new procedures, when you showed someone how to use the photocopier is one thing, out and out lies are another on a different level.
Personally I would not be comfortable helping someone to commit fraud, I hope for her sake the deception does not come back to cause her grief.

Oh dear - she sounds incredibly naive. You've done all you can.

Anyway, not your circus, not your monkeys. Karma will catch up with her. She’ll face her own consequences. You sound like you need to learn healthy boundaries.

Leave her to it - any lies are on her.

Tbh, I wouldn't have helped an acquaintance lie on their CV/LinkedIn in the first place (and I'm not sure how/why she needed help with it?). I work in a profession where any hint of dishonesty could have the potential to lose me my professional accreditation, so helping someone to lie is not something I'd risk. She hasn't put you down as a 'reference' has she?

If you think she is delusional, the time to tell her was when you were helping her to add fantasy jobs to her CV.

You're right to be concerned. Fabricating qualifications, especially for a high-level role like CMO, is extremely risky and can backfire with serious consequences, like being caught during background checks or struggling with the job itself. You've given her sensible advice, and while she may not appreciate it now, you're just trying to help her avoid potential fallout. At this point, you've done your part, and it's ultimately her decision.

Well I mean now she claims she knows about licensing (and will apply for a job of VP of licencing) when she claims that working in a company that helps set up the concessions of Michael Kors in department stores. I've told her that's not a licensing agreement but she's stubborn so whatever.

Gotta say, I kind of wish I had that level of confidence. I left the corporate world as a senior manager, before having kids. Now that I’m reapplying, I’m terrified that I won’t even know how to use a computer, or how to conduct meetings.

i wouldn’t ever do what your friend has, ie brazenly lie my way into a job, but you’ve done what you could. Now, it’s up to the company she works for and her.

None of this is going to end well, is it?

I’m kinda routing for her 😂 I hope she smashes it

And her "balls", I would be quite anxious to do this.

Good luck to her. I've done well in a few roles that I was entirely unsuitable for on paper (so embellished the 'paper' to make me suitable just to get an interview).

E.g. I applied for and was successful in gaining a PM role that required 3 years experience. My experience was a weeks worth of youtube videos prior to the interview.

Remember that the biggest secret in the corporate world is that no-one really knows what they are doing - we're all making it up as we go along.

Worked out okay for Jennifer Lopez in Second Act, dinnit?

If she isn’t found out immediately in interview, their interview process is not fit for purpose. And they should also be seeking references.

This all sounds hugely entertaining though. Do come back and update us.

That's lying, not embellishment