Lying (?) on your CV - under representation

Mena

I couldn't find anything similar to this so I've started a new thread. Does anyone have any experience in "dumbing down" their CV?

I've been in I.T. for almost 20 years now, I started as a network tech and moved all the way up to senior management, six figure salary included, but now want to take a major step backwards so that I can focus on family and finishing up my studies, including doing an MBA. Those reasons, and the fact that I actually enjoy doing the technical side of things, far more so than managing them and staff.

The issue I have is with lying on my CV, it's not something I particularly want to do. However, as it currently stands, I can't even get an interview for the roles I am applying for, as I would be considered very overqualified.
I understand this, from the employers perspective, as nobody wants to go through the time consuming process of recruiting someone and training them, only to have them leave for a more senior role with double the salary after six months. I've been there and done that and it's very disruptive.

From a technical point-of-view, I am fully qualified, and have kept up my hands on experience, but pretty much everything in my CV for the past eight years or so has been at a very senior level. So my questions are, has anyone done this before? Did you have to lie on your CV? Is under representing yourself on your CV even considered a lie and how did you handle references... ?

That, and any other words of wisdom anyone could offer would be great.

ntlbell

I don't think there's any point in lying but you can be "economical" with the truth. tailor the CV to the job your applying for if you really want to (i don't see why ) you can leave you the usual gibberish about how you have conquered and ruled the world for the last twenty years

Once in the interview communicate to the employer your situation if they're a company worth working for it shouldn't be an issue.

I recently interviewed someone who was in a very similar position to you, for what he would regard a low end job to what he was doing previously. He explained openly and honestly his future plans and that was good enough for me.

as i say by all means tone the CV down a bit but lies will eventually catch up with you.

Mena

ntlbell wrote: »

conquered and ruled the world for the last twenty years

I wouldn't go that far but thanks

ntlbell wrote: »

Once in the interview communicate to the employer your situation if they're a company worth working for it shouldn't be an issue.

Done this, had a great interview last week that I am waiting to hear back on. Problem is these are few and far between and I can't put all my eggs in one basket so to speak.

ntlbell wrote: »

I recently interviewed someone who was in a very similar position to you, for what he would regard a low end job to what he was doing previously. He explained openly and honestly his future plans and that was good enough for me.

That's great, and the tact I've been following as well. It's so much easier to get my position across face-to-face, it just seems that the content on the CV is blocking me in getting that initial interview in the first place.

ntlbell wrote: »

as i say by all means tone the CV down a bit but lies will eventually catch up with you.

Agreed fully, which is where my dilemma arises.

Thanks for the advice.

ntlbell

What type of roles are you currently looking at?

keane2097

I could swap you your CV for mine - you'd be underqualified for all sorts of jobs then...

Mena

ntlbell wrote: »

What type of roles are you currently looking at?

Just your average Sys Admin/Network admin / support type roles. Preferably in an industry where I have no experience and (here's the kicker) close to home :P

keane2097 wrote: »

I could swap you your CV for mine - you'd be underqualified for all sorts of jobs then...

Thanks for the offer, it's almost tempting, but in five or six years time, once the kid is a little grown up and I've completed my MBA I'll be wanting my 14 hours a day job and salary back I expect. :pac:

keane2097

Mena wrote: »

Thanks for the offer, it's almost tempting, but in five or six years time, once the kid is a little grown up and I've completed my MBA I'll be wanting my 14 hours a day job and salary back I expect. :pac:

I'd have it straight back to you - in five or six years time I'll be wanting my 14 hours a day sleep and no salary back I expect.

Mena

keane2097 wrote: »

I'd have it straight back to you - in five or six years time I'll be wanting my 14 hours a day sleep and no salary back I expect.

lol, point taken

ntlbell

Mena wrote: »

Just your average Sys Admin/Network admin / support type roles. Preferably in an industry where I have no experience and (here's the kicker) close to home :P

something that might help also if you're not getting much feedback from recruitment agencies I always find it better to try and approach company's directly that are currently recruiting (i know some don't bother advertising on their company website but a lot do)

We had a lot of problems with recruitment company's dismissing CV's where the person may have been over qualified when we specifically instructed them not to.

Do you have current qualifications like MCSE/CCNP/Etc?

seamus

I agree 100% with what ntlbell says. There's no need to lie, but it should be simple enough to undersell yourself and perhaps just omit anything which would be a million miles above the type of job you're aiming for.

I would imagine that if an employer understands and accepts your reasons, they'd be delighted to get someone with so much skill and experience relatively cheaply.

Mena

ntlbell wrote: »

Do you have current qualifications like MCSE/CCNP/Etc?

Thanks, have been applying directly but as you say, not many put the info up there. And yes, have an arms length of qualifications, MCSE, CCNA, CCDA, A+, N+ and lots more.

herya

It's only a matter of formatting your CV well. It's common practice to add a SHORT paragraph (really a sentence or two) after each important job saying what were the reasons for leaving, what did you have in mind looking for another job etc. A similar frequently used device is to put in a distinct paragraph (as a first thing after name and such) where you explain your goals and perspectives for the purpose of your current job search. Mostly people put in all kinds of ego-massaging praise but you can write that having extensive experience you now wish to undertake a more hands on and less management devoted role as to spend more time on your education and family commitments. Make sure you mention that the time frame here is a number of years not months.

Myself I'd have no qualms putting such a candidate forward and (what may work to your advantage) currently the companies are very aware of the influx of good candidates coming to the market and they want quality for a discount price which hopefully would be the case here.