To lie or not to lie

A caller on a local talk radio show was asking, “I have a friend who went to University and left two credits short of a degree. Should he claim he has a degree on his resume?”

The real question being asked here is: “Should I lie on my resume?”

The answer is unequivocal: No way!

You will often hear that the best fiction today is found on resumes. HR professionals’ estimate over fifty percent of the resumes in the market are filled with outright lies. If you think the lie won’t catch up with you should look up the story of Marilee Jones, who was forced to resign her position as MIT’s Dean of Admissions after an investigation revealed that she earned none of the academic degrees she had claimed on her original application 28 years prior. Today people don’t mention what she did for MIT, they talk about the public humiliation of being caught with her backside out in the wind.

Today’s employers are taking their time to hire the right people. Not only will they go through resumes with a fine tooth comb, some managers are even reviewing Facebook pages to see who you associate with and what your interests are. Make sure to keep that Facebook page clean and professional. Staffing Agencies are checking references, confirming employment and verifying education before your resume is sent to the hiring manager for review. When markets are in a recession companies are in control. They will not cut corners.

Deciding what should and should not go on your resume can be frustrating at the best of times. If you follow a couple of guide lines when writing your resume you will be assured to put your best foot forward.

· When referencing your work history, put the month and year on your resume. If you only reference the year recruiters will assume you were hired the last day of that year and fired the first day of the next year. If there are gaps in your history explain them in your cover letter.
· Education with no degree should be represented as that. Simply state the school and dates attended. If you went to Harvard for two years and then left say that.
· Using the correct terminology in your writing will add weight to your resume. If you were responsible for securing 1.5 million dollars selling a machine that is able to create a volume of space that is essentially empty of matter, everyone in the Vacuum Industry will be calling you. Terminology is the top reason why you should write your own resume and not pay to have it written.

If these guide lines are still a challenge you may consider working with a professional resume writer. Always work with a professional from your industry, as they will provide additional resources. These can include suggestions as to where you should post your resume, providing access to additional industry contacts, and being your best business advocate.

Bottom line, take your time and be honest. No relationship starts well when one or both parties are not being truthful. Do you really want to work for someone who has lied to you about their company and the role you are going to play in their future? False pretences lead to eventual failure. The truth will ensure your success in the long run.