No More Lies

People are dishonest on their resumes because job seeking is difficult. Besides the frustration of not hearing back from employers and low pay, more than one-third of job seekers cited unreasonable requirements as a top hindrance to employment, according to Resume Genius's 2024 Job Seeker Insights Survey. Another third said they can't find positions that match their skills. Half of the 1,000 active US job seekers who responded to the survey have either lied or considered lying on their resume.

To gain an advantage in a difficult market, applicants were untruthful about the length of time in a role, their job title, their responsibilities, and their educational credentials. The most prevalent falsehood was to hide a career gap. But being untruthful on your resume can have consequences, including rejection during the hiring process, termination after onboarding, or loss of licenses or credentials.

Resume Genius offers guidance to help workers avoid being dishonest on their resumes.

Be truthful about employment gaps. Don't be deceitful about lapses. Instead, address that concern with potential employers head-on and explain how you improved yourself (whether in terms of skills, in your personal life, or with experiences) during those times. Demonstrate proactivity and an interest in developing marketable skills that may benefit the new company.

Focus on transferable skills. Emphasize the positives of your real skills rather than manufacturing alternate ones. Transferable skills such as strong communication, problem solving, and multitasking can be valuable assets for any business. Note in your resume or cover letter how your skills from previous roles make you a strong candidate for the position.

Specifically tailor your resume. Take a few minutes to tweak your resume to ensure it matches each job application. Prioritize reading the role's description and pick out key skills and experiences in your job materials that map to the organization's values.

Personalizing your resume and highlighting the positives shows care for each application and eliminates the perceived need to lie to potential employers.