When seeking employment of any kind, it’s important to get started out on the right foot and show that you’re a trustworthy person. That’s why you want to maintain solid ethics and always be honest when submitting your resume. Here are some reasons why you should be honest, the potential risks of not telling the truth and a few tips for keeping your resume factual.
Recruiters Can Check Your Work History
First of all, it’s incredibly easy for a recruiter to perform an online search and learn the details of your past. With all of the technology that’s readily available, it’s commonplace to learn more about potential employees before they’re actually hired. In fact, many companies mandate that recruiters run a background employment check on every single job candidate. If they find any information that doesn’t mesh with what you said on your resume, there’s a good chance that it will come to light. It’s just not worth the risk that runs with falsifying or embellishing information.
Lying Can Kill a Golden Opportunity
In many cases, it will automatically disqualify you from gaining a position if you’re caught lying on your resume. If you happened to be a frontrunner among other job candidates, there’s a good chance that it will cost you the job. Even if you are already hired, an employer could potentially uncover the truth later on, and you could be terminated. The bottom line is that not telling the truth could come back to haunt you.
Lying Creates a Terrible First Impression
Say you didn’t seriously falsify any information, but you told a little white lie or embellished something. An employer may still choose to hire you if they think you’ve got talent, but you’re probably going to be under the microscope for longer than usual. It’s also going to be difficult to build rapport and earn their trust, which is never good when starting out at a new job. Not to mention, that it’s going to be embarrassing when you’re confronted about the situation.
How to Ensure You’re Honest on Your Resume
According to Pyramid Consulting Group, there are a few ways to keep your information straight and factual:
- Use the exact titles of past positions
- Never try to cover up gaps in your employment history
- Don’t overly embellish previous awards and accomplishments
- Don’t make guesses
Being honest on your resume should help you maintain your integrity and prevent future issues from arising down the road. It should also help you gain the trust and respect of your employer. Click here for more information on creating a resume and other employment tips.
