Theres No Need to Pad Your Resume

It seems like a good idea, harmless in fact. Your friends assure you that everybody does it and that employers rarely check resume facts. Going on blind faith and convinced the truth hasn't been helpful so far, you seriously consider fabricating information on your resume. You adapt the school of thought that a little white lie never hurt anyone and lying on a resume is just that, a little white lie.

Cheating on a resume can be tempting, especially when one has been searching for a job for months or even years. However, we all know that fibbing is never a good idea, and the likelihood that you'll be caught is extremely high. Even if your "creativity" slips through the cracks, karma has a way of catching up with you. So either way, lying gets messy.

That said, many job seekers have major hiccups in their professional life-employment gaps, lack of education and/or experience-and it is becoming increasingly difficult for most to write their own resumes without exaggerating or flat-out lying. Since resume fraud is on the rise, employers are taking much more care in verifying information, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to mislead them. The good news, however, is that lying isn't necessary if the resume is well-written and strategically organized.

The education and experience sections of a resume are the ones most job seekers are fixed on fabricating. They are under the impression that if they lack the educational requirements or the experience described in the job description they won't be considered a serious candidate. That, however, is a myth.

Education doesn't top an employer's list

Many people incorrectly believe hiring decisions are made based on the candidate's education, and they feel compelled to stretch the truth in order to compete with their degreed counterparts. The reality is that education, though important, isn't the driving force behind hiring decisions unless, of course, your profession requires a degree (e.g. doctors, lawyers, CPAs, etc.).

When a candidate lacks a college degree but has a solid work history, education quickly falls down the ladder of necessary requirements. Let's take a look at this point from an employer's perspective.

The situation: The job description reads, "Seeking an accounts payable specialist with comprehensive experience in processing expense reports, reconciling vendor accounts, and performing bank reconciliations. Successful candidate holds an associate's degree in accounting."

Candidate #1: Jose has worked in accounts payable for the last five years. During his career, he has set up new policies, cross-referenced purchase orders with invoices, and interacted with vendors to resolve invoice discrepancies. His experience comes from the school of hard knocks and he doesn't have a college education.

Candidate #2: Maria recently received a bachelor's degree in accounting. While earning her degree she worked as a front desk clerk for a Fortune 500 company where she was in charge of filing and answering a multi-line phone system.

Who would you rather hire, Jose or Maria? Chances are that you named Jose as the clear winner because his experience supercedes Maria's education. Jose will be able to jump into the position with little or no training because he has hands-on knowledge of best accounting practices. Maria, on the other hand, is green. The hiring organization would have to spend time, money, and resources to train her, which they most likely won't have an interest in doing.

Show 'em what you've got

Employers spend most of their time scrutinizing the experience section of the resume, and unfortunately, the homespun resume rarely tells the whole story. Most resume do-it-yourselfers fear their accomplishments won't fare well against the competition and they decide to embellish facts in an effort to attract an employer's attention.

Again, fabricating information isn't necessary. Most likely the experience you have garnered throughout your work history is impressive. The challenge, however, is expressing your accomplishments in a way that entices the hiring organization to give you a call.

When dealing with hiring organizations you have to connect all the dots. For each position that you are applying for, there is an average of 500 applicants so you have to make it very easy for the reader to distinguish between you and every other qualified candidate. The only way to achieve that is by writing strong resume copy.

As a job seeker you are intimately involved in your own search, so much so that it is hard to take a step back and write a resume that is marketable. You are probably your own worst critic. If you have attempted to write your own resume you know how difficult it is to write about yourself objectively.

To make the resume-writing process easier, answer the following questions:

  • What skill set do you bring to the table?

  • What are your competitive strengths?

  • For each position you held, list three to five achievements.

  • How is your company better off since you joined their team?

  • Have you been involved in designing and/or implementing new initiatives?

    The point here is to start thinking about your career as a portrait of who you are professionally, and not just as a job. When you make that mind shift, it will be easier to put words to paper. Lying isn't a necessary evil. The trick to obtaining the job you desire is making the most of what you have to offer.

    About The Author

    Recognized as a career expert, Linda Matias brings a wealth of experience to the career services field. She has been sought out for her knowledge of the employment market, outplacement, job search strategies, interview preparation, and resume writing, quoted a number of times in The Wall Street Journal, New York Newsday, Newsweek, and HR-esource.com. She is President of CareerStrides and the National Resume Writers' Association. Visit her website at www.careerstrides.com or email her at linda@careerstrides.com.

    In The News:

    • pen paper and inkwell


    cat break through


    How To Take The Pain Out Of Performance Reviews

    The Painful ApproachFor many years, "performance management" was of an... Read More

    Targeting Your Resume is So Important For Your Career

    Targeting your portfolio, (resume and cover letter) can get you... Read More

    Get In The Game With a Stellar Resume

    During the job hunter's market of the 1990's, employers were... Read More

    How To Prepare For A Telephone Interview

    It is important to prepare thoroughly for your telephone interview.Begin... Read More

    We Rejected Your Résumé Today

    Hi, I am Mr. Employer.Even though you think I can... Read More

    4 Tips for Making Successful Job Offers

    The interviews are completed, the paperwork is all filled out... Read More

    De-Bunking The ?Follow Your Bliss? Myth

    Hello Fellow Seekers!I don't know about you? but I'm pretty... Read More

    Ive Got the Big Bad B Word on My Job!

    That "B" word---B O R E D O M.How did... Read More

    Why Do Interviews Die: That Sinking Feeling and How to Prevent it!

    Interviews die because a mistake occurred. Sometimes, you've made a... Read More

    Five Facts You Must Know When Changing Careers

    Too often in life, we fail. We fail not because... Read More

    Tips on How to Write High Impact Letters of Recommendation

    Congratulations. You've been asked to write a letter of recommendation... Read More

    What To Do When You Get Caught Surfing By The Boss!

    It has been a long morning and you need a... Read More

    Cracking the Connection Code: Networking for the Introverted

    We've all heard it before: "Just get out there and... Read More

    Dont Quit Your Day Job! Convincing Your Boss To Let You Telecommute, Part 1 of 2

    Are you desperately trying to find a telecommute job so... Read More

    Job Search Campaign Tip: An Activity Diary

    Looking for a job involves a wide range of responsibilities:... Read More

    How To Become A Computer Consultant

    Have you ever wanted to become a computer consultant, but... Read More

    What Students and Parents MUST Know about Student Loans

    A student loan helps you get through college. Then you... Read More

    Listening for Interview Success

    Yes I know that we usually think of interviews as... Read More

    Minding Your Own Business

    Think you have gone as far as you can in... Read More

    Powerful Phone Interviews

    Phone interviews are de rigueur with many organizations.Companies conduct phone... Read More

    The Group Interview

    Sometimes, when going on job interviews, you might end up... Read More

    You Should Interview the Interviewer, Too

    I know what you are thinking. You're thinking, "Wait a... Read More

    Seeking Knowledge Will Give You Power

    What are you interested in? We all have a passion... Read More

    How to Pick the Best Career for You: Part 3

    Marketing-with-Intent precisely drives you to your target and with greater... Read More

    Personal Contacts: The Key to Successful Networking

    When the word "networking" is used, we tend to think... Read More

    Conduct An Informational Interview

    Informational interviews are designed to get as much information as... Read More

    Create A Rappin? Resume

    (Percussion sounds emanating from who knows where while you listen... Read More

    Get a Job! Tips for Organizing Your Resume

    Whether you're a Vice President of Marketing or a recent... Read More

    Job Hunting: Its Still The First Impression Stupid!

    In the 1992 USA Presidential election, political strategist James Carville... Read More

    Seven Myths You Must Challenge Now To Begin Your Second Career Today

    * Has it been awhile since you explored career options?*... Read More

    Your Value Proposition: A Critical Component To Having A Successful Job Search

    Your value proposition is a series of statements defining your... Read More

    Fascinating Ways to Make a Living Doing What You Love May Be Closer Than You Think...

    You don't have to look very far to find fascinating... Read More

    Dynamic Pre-Hiring Practices

    The pre-hiring process can be a challenge. Much time and... Read More