| Before you consider stretching the truth a little on | | | | employment background check. Maybe you are |
| your resume or lying about something, you should | | | | not performing your job as well as expected. |
| read this article. You might just have second | | | | Maybe a co-worker has the same credential and |
| thoughts. | | | | became suspicious when your facts did not add |
| How many times have you heard someone say, | | | | up during a conversation. |
| "Just put it on your resume. There's no way | | | | Some companies have never experienced a |
| they're going to find out"? | | | | dishonest employee who lied on his/her resume, |
| It is tempting to put little white lies on your | | | | and does not routinely verify work histories and |
| resume. These might include overstating your | | | | the validity of credentials. In short, they have a |
| knowledge of required software ("If they call me, | | | | false sense of security. |
| I'll teach myself over the weekend"), a | | | | Just the same, many hiring managers are keenly |
| certification ("They'll never go through all that | | | | aware that lying on a resume is becoming a |
| trouble to find out") or extending dates at a | | | | costly problem for many companies, and |
| former employer ("They can't find out. The | | | | thoroughly check all facts even after they hire a |
| company went out of business"). | | | | candidate. |
| So what's the big deal? It's not like you're claiming | | | | Sadly, it is quite common these days to learn of |
| to be a medical doctor, right? Who are you | | | | employee terminations because background |
| hurting anyway? You're just stretching the truth a | | | | checks revealed dishonesty. Depending on the |
| little to get your foot in the door -- or so you tell | | | | level of the position or the severity of the |
| yourself. If these are familiar thoughts, you might | | | | falsification, this could sometimes lead to legal |
| want to re-think them. | | | | actions. |
| Why? Because the risk of getting caught is real. | | | | So, before you decide to make yourself look |
| The odds of getting away with listing false | | | | better on paper, think again. It is not worth |
| information on your resume are probably, well . . . | | | | getting the job if you are not going to be able to |
| who really knows? Do you really want to find out | | | | live up to it or hold on to it. |
| the hard way? | | | | The moral of this story? Don't risk your future by |
| There are many reasons that could prompt a | | | | lying about your past! Honesty is always the best |
| human resources manager to conduct an | | | | policy! |