Lying on a cv

CrazyRabbit · 26-03-2014 01:13AM

So am I the only one who hasn't lied or exaggerated on their CV? In fact, I've left some stuff off so that the CV doesn't get too large.

I am tempted do so though. Every job I applied for has crazy requirements. I sincerely doubt they'll find anyone with all the qualifications/requirements met. I hope I just check enough of the boxes to get an interview.

tomwaterford · 26-03-2014 01:14AM

CrazyRabbit wrote: »

So am I the only one who hasn't lied or exaggerated on their CV? In fact, I've left some stuff off so that the CV doesn't get too large.

I am tempted do so though. Every job I applied for has crazy requirements. I sincerely doubt they'll find anyone with all the qualifications/requirements met. I hope I just check enough of the boxes to get an interview.

more or less what I do as well

Kenny Logins · 26-03-2014 01:16AM

Have you ever looked at Linkedin? It's a whole site dedicated to it.

Stavros Murphy · 26-03-2014 01:17AM

I'm unemployable so I've never had a cv to lie on. I'm feelin left out. I've never had an interview either. I've spent most of my adult life trying to get out of doing stuff and failing miserably. For a lazy sod, I always seem to get lumbered with hard work.

Happyman42 · 26-03-2014 01:19AM

BraziliaNZ wrote: »

Done it loads of times.

There's a certain irony in that.

B.A._Baracus · 26-03-2014 01:29AM

CrazyRabbit wrote: »

So am I the only one who hasn't lied or exaggerated on their CV? In fact, I've left some stuff off so that the CV doesn't get too large.

I am tempted do so though. Every job I applied for has crazy requirements. I sincerely doubt they'll find anyone with all the qualifications/requirements met. I hope I just check enough of the boxes to get an interview.

Being honest, I am unemployed right now and I am thinking of going back to the my early 20s mentality of just throwing blatant lies on my cv

Like, i've done the whole honesty thing in recent times but its hard to get an interview, let alone a job and with all these internships in place you cannot blame anyone.

OneArt · 26-03-2014 01:29AM

Two years experience as a f*cking waiter?

Two months is enough. I don't understand why restaurants in Ireland always seem to ask for it.

tomwaterford · 26-03-2014 01:31AM

OneArt wrote: »

Two years experience as a f*cking waiter?

Two months is enough. I don't understand why restaurants in Ireland always seem to ask for it.

im just surprised it's not an internship is all

Holsten · 26-03-2014 01:32AM

Yeah I'd lie no bother.

If it was between the dole and lying, I'll be telling porkies till the cows come home.

Micky Dolenz · 26-03-2014 01:36AM

I lied once on a cv. I said I liked to swim, I don't really. It's good exercise but I don't think I enjoy it.

Oranage2 · 26-03-2014 01:40AM

Lied on one for my first job, it was for a supermarket so I put down I worked in a small corner shop and put my aunt down as the reference.

Tasden · 26-03-2014 01:54AM

orangesoda wrote: »

i was rejected from applying to a bbc internship as i got a 2:2 instead of a 2:1, the annoying think was that i had a good amount of experience which is crucial in the industry

I'm the opposite, have the 2.1 and other certs or whatnot but not the experience, and I think its more important to have relevant experience rather than the right grades in most jobs. I'd employ the person with more experience anyway.

B.A._Baracus · 26-03-2014 02:06AM

I have actually spent the last couple of minutes thinking of ways to lie on my cv :pac: (am being genuinely serious here lol)

Like in this day and age it is an employers market and you will be called out for a reference. Question is what company do you say?

You could turn around and say you worked for a company that went belly up with recession. But then that negates the whole reference part. As there would be no person to ring. On the flipside, if you chance your arm and say you worked for "xyz company" you are only a phone call or email away from getting caught out.

Holsten · 26-03-2014 02:08AM

Boss/manager/team have all moved on.

Company went under.

Give friends number.

"Yeah Frank worked here alright, most professional employee I've ever had" etc..

extra gravy · 26-03-2014 02:11AM

OneArt wrote: »

Two years experience as a f*cking waiter?

Two months is enough. I don't understand why restaurants in Ireland always seem to ask for it.

They ask for it because it's very easy to tell the difference between someone with two months experience and two years. Two years + experience gives you a confident, competent and knowledgeable waiter who can provide excellent customer service...2 months generally does not.

Whatsgonewrong · 26-03-2014 02:13AM

extra gravy wrote: »

They ask for it because it's very easy to tell the difference between someone with two months experience and two years. Two years + experience gives you a confident, competent and knowledgeable waiter who can provide excellent customer service...6 months generally does not.

But the problem Is nowadays the younger generation etc wont get the chance to get experience because they will be overlooked. I myself am 22 and In college, college Is a big factor why I haven't been employed also unfortunately.

risteard7 · 26-03-2014 02:14AM

Sure at interviews all people do is lie.
You have to make up a load of lies on "why you would love to work for the company"

when in reality I couldn't give a toss about the company, I just need the money

Fred Swanson · 26-03-2014 02:14AM

This post has been deleted.

B.A._Baracus · 26-03-2014 02:20AM

I have given fake references. Like giving an actual company that went bust (who I never really worked for) and give the "mobile number of my former manager" .... But it just doesnt work these days. Its crazy.

As I say its an employers market and they want proof (or should I use commas for "proof" lol) that you've done the job. its almost like the current reference is the deal sealer.

Mr. CooL ICE · 26-03-2014 02:29AM

I lied about my interests. Although I am active, I like running and the gym, but always state team sports on my CV for the whole 'team worker' crap.

Aside from that, I'd be afraid to lie for fear of being caught out.

turbot · 26-03-2014 02:40AM

The World is changing so fast, it's easier to just get valuable experience than to pretend. Most degrees, if they are commercially relevant at all, have a shelf life of only four years.

So - just pick something, be OCD about getting good at it, and get results, and from those, convince someone you can add more value than you cost. Eg: Pick an area of social media that is in demand and figure it out. Many people on the job don't have enough time to learn, so if you spend three to six months studying, testing and reading around and you go for it, by the end of it you'll be able to talk the talk, walk the walk and use what you learn to get hired.

BraziliaNZ · 26-03-2014 02:41AM

Happyman42 wrote: »

There's a certain irony in that.

Ya liddle!!! Only because I plied my make-believe skills in various countries during my yoof and was moving around from job to job. I don't need to lie these days but you may as well add a degree to your name if you're going for the sort of jobs I went for in the past, they never ever once checked it, and I dropped out of Uni after 2 years. Just sayin'!

donegal_man · 26-03-2014 03:01AM

OneArt wrote: »

Two years experience as a f*cking waiter?

Two months is enough. I don't understand why restaurants in Ireland always seem to ask for it.

Honesty I think that's a major problem we have in Ireland, there's no respect for people engaged in service industries. Then we wonder why nobody wants to do them. "Sure it's only a waiting job, you'll learn in no time", seems to be an attitude amongst not just the public but even some employers who just want to get someone without having to pay any more than minimum wage. Waiting, if it's done properly, is a highly skilled job. Go to a really good restaurant and watch the staff in action.

Wake_Up_Donnie · 26-03-2014 03:10AM

donegal_man wrote: »

Honesty I think that's a major problem we have in Ireland, there's no respect for people engaged in service industries.

As a former cashier, I'd have to agree with this. There's skill in every job.

The Diabolical Monocle · 26-03-2014 03:16AM

Whatsgonewrong wrote: »

If its an ol minimum wage job then who cares, you'd learn the ropes in no time. Its nonsens some of the experience you need to work In cafes etc.

As for references I have a dutch mobile number so I have on my cv I worked In Amsterdam. That won't be traced. Anyway I have no problem lying If It means im trying to better my life. I wouldn't be content on the dole saying 'no jobs' everytime Im asked If Im looking for work

Hey... liking the mobile number thing. handy trick. there are companies that specialise in fake references. but they all seem to be usa.

WoollyRedHat · 26-03-2014 03:23AM

I've lied a bit on my CV but sometiems I get carried away a bit, like saying I own my own chain of furniture stores. I guess it don't make much sense having an interview for a deli position when I own my own chain of furniture stores. I try to explain and say I really like chicken and licking my fingers after touching it, but that doesn't seem to help much either.

What gets me really mad though is that I can't even seem to secure a job interview for Tesco or KFC, and it's not like I've never had any customer service roles.

It can be really frustrating so it defintely is worth stretching those months into something longer, especially in retail. Same ****, different day, same pay

ardle1 · 26-03-2014 03:24AM

Ahhh it could be worse! you could be lying on a bed off nails

Little Acorn · 26-03-2014 04:12AM

Some cv liars who made the papers:
UCD Lecturer Gary Santry,
Chief executive of Yahoo Scott Thompson,
Bertie Ahern,
UK Dr. David Clarke
(Aside from Bertie all lost their jobs)
http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/is-it-ever-okay-to-lie-on-your-cv-26874816.html

Chief executive of a hospital Neil Taylor:
http://www.independent.ie/unsorted/features/the-cv-fibbers-who-play-the-lying-game-25972475.html

Irish Lawyer disbarred:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2450806/Top-city-lawyer-lied-Oxford-Harvard-degrees-quits.html
http://www.irishtimes.com/business/sectors/retail-and-services/lawyer-who-said-he-lied-on-cv-to-impress-his-mother-is-disbarred-1.1682776

Few more:
http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2011/01/26/lying-to-get-a-job/
http://guyspeed.com/10-high-profile-people-who-lost-their-jobs-for-lying-on-their-resumes/

Is it possible for people to be prosecuted for faking qualifications in most jobs (aside from something obvious like a doctor which I think somebody should be prosecuted for)?
How likely are people to be named and shamed in paper if caught out, or does that only happen to somewhat famous people?
Still in college myself so no serious fakery on cv really just some slight exaggeration. Hoping to get a genuine good degree without the need to fake. (all going well hopefully)
Just curious though about how common the faking qualifications thing is as will possibly be in competition for a job with some people who fake.
People with experience on the graduate job market - how common do you think faking qualifications is and how likely are a company to ask for transcripts from college?

Ann Landers · 26-03-2014 05:33AM

myshirt wrote: »

What about lying about getting a 2.1 degree?

myshirt wrote: »

I once had to refuse a guy a second interview to meet the boss because HR pulled our budget when they seen the chap hadn't a 2.1.
I liked the guy. I wanted to give him a shot. Good commercial awareness. Good attitude. Enthusiastic learner. And his degree was 5 years ago. Jesus.

Would the fact that he lied about it not set alarm bells ringing? Did he even need to lie, were ye looking for someone with a 2.1?

Skatedude · 26-03-2014 05:59AM

if you sign a contract, then yes, you can be brought to court over breach of contract. no jail time, but you could be made to pay back all money you received as well as expenses related including employee training etc which could end up costing you a lot more than your salary ever was.

depending on the company, you could easily be blacklisted and never employed in that sector again etc.
A lot of companies, even smaller ones are in regular contact with various employment agencies etc and your reputation could take a much harder hit than you realise.

But it depends on the company and the job. I'm a tech and you cant fake been able to repair the type of industrial machinery i work on.
But you could try and fake your way though some jobs, but they will probably catch on very quickly, or just fire you for been crap at it.
My family business used to be a hotel, and we used to see a lot of people with "experience" who hadnt a clue and didnt last long. and of course, people in the trade know others so word gets around whos chancing their luck.

Lying on a cv

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