Your Life Is an Open Book and Employers Know It
There are companies out there that promise to erase your on-line history. Does it really work? I don’t know but I do know that the truth has a nasty way of catching up to all of us.
According to the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations, 70% of companies surveyed say they’ve caught lies or relevant omissions on applicant resumes And more companies are verifying resume information before they spend any time interviewing.
Every couple of months the news is filled with another story of a C-level executive who claimed to have graduated from some prestigious university, or of a politician who slept, smoked or spoke with someone or something they shouldn’t have. Like a zit on the end of your nose on the day of your big presentation, truth always breaks out when you least want it to.
Lie, embellish, fudge, deceive, or bend the truth. No matter what you call it, don’t do it on a resume. An employer that is serious about you will do a background check. And catching a lie on a resume, even a small one will tarnish your image and ruin your chances of doing the work you want to do and very possibly your reputation.
People are most tempted to lie about their educational background. If you don’t have the requisite advanced degrees, highlight your exceptional work world experience instead or feature related certifications. And if you really need that degree to prove you can do the work. Go get it.If you’re smart enough to run a multi-million dollar company you’re probably smart enough to get a graduate degree.
And remember, your life story is just a few clicks away to every potential employer. So be aware MySpace friends. Everything you post to the Internet — those pictures of you doing Jell-O shots in college or a rant about a previous employer on your Blog will haunt you for years to come.
Posted by: Camilla Dadey