Fudging the truth!

[theworld4u]

Hi,

I have worked at HSBC for 6 years now.

My 2 previous roles were branch based but my current role is in head office dealing with complaints.
I have only been in this role for 3 months but have been looking for similar complaint handling roles elsewhere (other companies) simply for a higher salary.

I have seen a vacancy with the Home Office and wonder if I can keep it vague on my CV?

ie.

Employment

HSBC
April 2019 - Present
Complaint Handler

This suggests that I have been doing complaint handling since joining in April ‘19.

Is it ok to do this?

Pleaee advise!

Thank you

You mean lying? Yeah, lying to the Home Office (who often do detailed background checks) is totally a good idea.

No, it’s not ok.

HSBC will give an accurate reference (I used to work there and I know that they told my new employer my exact role history).

And even if that wasn’t the case, check your moral compass.

No I wouldn’t do that. You should put HSBC, 2019-present then list your job roles and dates under that.

That's a really stupid thing to do, you'll be caught out in your lie immediately.

Do not do this.

If you were in a branch, you must have had to deal with complaining customers on the front line, even if you then had to escalate the complaint. As pps have said, you need to be accurate about your roles, but on your CV you can mention that your branch role involved dealing with complainants face to face.

You need to put your exact roles in. If you get an interview talk about progression in role from where you started to what you do now and link relevant experience from being customer faced - so I spent x yrs in this role which allowed me to gain these skills and experience and led me to want to develop my career in this specific area. Then move on to the experience in the role specific around complaint handling.

There will have been customers you dealt with who were unhappy and you had queries to resolve so there will be transferable skills. Focus on these.

I'm all for a bit of artistic licence on my cv but that's taking it way too far.

Go for the job on the truth and your new employer can make the call about investing additional training for you if needed.

I'm sure HSBC is a big company, but isn't all the above a little outing?

40,000 staff, say 1% complaint handlers = 400
Started 3 months ago = say, 20...

Do not lie about the roles and dates - not even by ommission. Be totally accurate.

However, do 'big up' how much complaint handling there was in previous roles. Again, no lies, but if handling complaints was part of the role, make it the part you list first and with the most detail about what it entailed.

To point is to make it look like a long list of roles that all involved a good element of the same responsibilities as the one you are applying for.

If you have to ask if it is ok to lie to the Home Office, you’re probably not suitable for a role at the Home Office!

I don't see why you would need to do this, your branch work will have a lot of transferable experience dealing with customers. CS is behaviour based, it's about quality, not quantity.

I did 4 roles over 8 years with one company. I wrote the company name and detailed each role underneath with dates.