A new survey finds a majority of job seekers lie about their qualifications on cover letters, resumes and in job interviews, and it cites eight more honest options.
Lying is one thing, but if the whole “prettying up resumes, cover letters and conduct at interviews” is lying, then it’s the employers who are choosing the liars and make this process this way.
Not to mention the posted job description and duties often either are very different, or the description doesn’t tell the full story, or is so generic and lacks substance.
These things I did to get hired… are they lying?
Describe something I contributed as part of a team as my own success.
Change a job title of something to the effect of “Co-op Student” to something that more accurately described what I was doing.
Playing the “Tell me about a time when” scenario game, trying to recall something I did 4 years ago on the spot. Not every detail is perfect in my memory, and the interviewer expects a comprehensive demonstration of your skills in a tough situation, so I make sure the story fits in an easily digestible arc, and miss or fill in details to achieve that. Not like “everyone clapped and my boss hugged me” but stuff that my former boss would say “seems legit” if the company were to go as far as fact-check me on it.
Candidates “lie” because truth filters you out of these stupid human resources systems. Rant over.
It’s the same for every place you need to apply or pitch an idea where the places are limited. Criterias just get absurd, and even acing the criterias might not be enough. People who rise are simply the better bullshiters.
Years ago my friend received a call for a job, within minutes the HR person asked if he had a good experience with a certain language and he flat out said no, even though he had some very basic knowledge. The interview ended right there. I just couldn’t believe that he wouldn’t lie, he was perfect for the job, but HR does not care. He’s been in the same role for 10 years and unwilling to “lie” to get a promotion or a new role, so that is where we are. This 30% of honest employees is probably not getting the best jobs.
He’s been in the same role for 10 years and unwilling to “lie” to get a promotion or a new role, so that is where we are. This 30% of honest employees is probably not getting the best jobs.
Exactly, and when you hear stuff like some HR people ‘not accepting career gaps for any reason’, it’s cause for some people to make up some BS about it to get around that. I’m not very good at lying, but what recruiters want are stories, and thus I can justify “white lies”, omissions, minor embellishments to give them what they want and play their game. Don’t lose your integrity, but honesty is not the best policy in the job hunt until you have a contract. It took a year for me to figure that out.
Over that time though recruiters at different companies were all over the place in terms of quality, when they did reach out. Some company’s processes are well-defined, transparent and their recruiters actively keep you up to date. Despite not ultimately being hired there, one company I was really impressed by their process, more than any other. Some HR teams you have to keep following up, they never give clear answers and drag you along for over more than a month without really telling you where things are at. That was more frustrating to me than no response or any rejection.
This is my stance as well. I have a decade of experience and I have been a workaholic, so at this point I wouldn’t want to work somewhere with that bs anyway. I also have experienced one great HR team.
That being said, I know how the game is played. A decade ago, I listed a dozen things on my resume I would have had trouble to demonstrate, but nowadays I can just build a nice story that is 100% truthful from cherry-picked facts. Sad truth is that if you’re too candid you might come off as too disengaged nowadays. I’ve seen it happen in interviews. Best to pretend that your life led to this moment, and that you’re that kind of person to find exciting whatever kind of work it is. If you lack experience for entry-level roles, just fill the gaps with lies.
Yeah its funny theyre putting it so critically when the questions and system pretty much demand that you lie. In fact some interviewers may argue that the truthfulness of the answer isnt what they want as much as they want an employee’s ability to think on the fly and quickly BS their way through.
Which honestly I think is not a great trait to look for in most roles.
But seriously these questions can be frustrating.
“What are your weaknesses”
Well I have allergies , I cant reach really high places, I often have trouble going to bed on time, I dont like waking up early, Im a socially awkward weirdo, I suspect I have adhd. Oh related to the job? Sure let me tell you all the(if any) weaknesses I have pertaining to the job youre screening for.
“Name a time that you failed and how you handled it”
is more “tell us a story where something difficult happened at work and how were you able to fix it” but if you want I can use this truthful interview as a free therapy session and unload on you.
“Tell me about a time when…” If I had the time, I would go to interviews just to shut this shit down. I don’t need the job, I just want to beat it into hiring managers’ heads that this is BS and needs to stop. If those questions aren’t given to the interviewee ahead of time to prepare, it’s off the table.
I lied on mine until the day I no longer had to. Because I hadn’t lied I wouldn’t have gotten the jobs that I was qualified for.
Now if I want a different job I call up one of the head hunters that’s been trying to get me to come work for their client. And that’s the ONLY reason I don’t lie on it anymore. I’ll lie to a damn company in a heartbeat.
Hahahaha. Incoming rant.
Lying is one thing, but if the whole “prettying up resumes, cover letters and conduct at interviews” is lying, then it’s the employers who are choosing the liars and make this process this way.
Not to mention the posted job description and duties often either are very different, or the description doesn’t tell the full story, or is so generic and lacks substance.
These things I did to get hired… are they lying?
Candidates “lie” because truth filters you out of these stupid human resources systems. Rant over.
It’s the same for every place you need to apply or pitch an idea where the places are limited. Criterias just get absurd, and even acing the criterias might not be enough. People who rise are simply the better bullshiters.
Years ago my friend received a call for a job, within minutes the HR person asked if he had a good experience with a certain language and he flat out said no, even though he had some very basic knowledge. The interview ended right there. I just couldn’t believe that he wouldn’t lie, he was perfect for the job, but HR does not care. He’s been in the same role for 10 years and unwilling to “lie” to get a promotion or a new role, so that is where we are. This 30% of honest employees is probably not getting the best jobs.
Exactly, and when you hear stuff like some HR people ‘not accepting career gaps for any reason’, it’s cause for some people to make up some BS about it to get around that. I’m not very good at lying, but what recruiters want are stories, and thus I can justify “white lies”, omissions, minor embellishments to give them what they want and play their game. Don’t lose your integrity, but honesty is not the best policy in the job hunt until you have a contract. It took a year for me to figure that out.
Over that time though recruiters at different companies were all over the place in terms of quality, when they did reach out. Some company’s processes are well-defined, transparent and their recruiters actively keep you up to date. Despite not ultimately being hired there, one company I was really impressed by their process, more than any other. Some HR teams you have to keep following up, they never give clear answers and drag you along for over more than a month without really telling you where things are at. That was more frustrating to me than no response or any rejection.
This is my stance as well. I have a decade of experience and I have been a workaholic, so at this point I wouldn’t want to work somewhere with that bs anyway. I also have experienced one great HR team.
That being said, I know how the game is played. A decade ago, I listed a dozen things on my resume I would have had trouble to demonstrate, but nowadays I can just build a nice story that is 100% truthful from cherry-picked facts. Sad truth is that if you’re too candid you might come off as too disengaged nowadays. I’ve seen it happen in interviews. Best to pretend that your life led to this moment, and that you’re that kind of person to find exciting whatever kind of work it is. If you lack experience for entry-level roles, just fill the gaps with lies.
Yeah its funny theyre putting it so critically when the questions and system pretty much demand that you lie. In fact some interviewers may argue that the truthfulness of the answer isnt what they want as much as they want an employee’s ability to think on the fly and quickly BS their way through.
Which honestly I think is not a great trait to look for in most roles.
But seriously these questions can be frustrating.
“What are your weaknesses”
Well I have allergies , I cant reach really high places, I often have trouble going to bed on time, I dont like waking up early, Im a socially awkward weirdo, I suspect I have adhd. Oh related to the job? Sure let me tell you all the(if any) weaknesses I have pertaining to the job youre screening for.
“Name a time that you failed and how you handled it” is more “tell us a story where something difficult happened at work and how were you able to fix it” but if you want I can use this truthful interview as a free therapy session and unload on you.
“Tell me about a time when…” If I had the time, I would go to interviews just to shut this shit down. I don’t need the job, I just want to beat it into hiring managers’ heads that this is BS and needs to stop. If those questions aren’t given to the interviewee ahead of time to prepare, it’s off the table.
I’m with you 100% on this rant.
I lied on mine until the day I no longer had to. Because I hadn’t lied I wouldn’t have gotten the jobs that I was qualified for.
Now if I want a different job I call up one of the head hunters that’s been trying to get me to come work for their client. And that’s the ONLY reason I don’t lie on it anymore. I’ll lie to a damn company in a heartbeat.