What a hiring manager really thinks when they catch you in a lie on your resume

There’s a difference between stretching a qualification, proposing creative, cross-field applications of your skillset, and straight-up lying on your resume to get the job. And let’s be clear, a good hiring manager will be able to tell when you have lied. Ladders spoke with D’Laina Boynton, Digital Strategist at Valorem Reply, and Adam Ghahramani, Founder at Blockwich, for some insights into the hiring lies they’ve experienced and what you can do to make sure it doesn’t happen.

How to avoid sounding like a liar

During an application process, we often have a tendency to undersell and devalue our skill sets. It’s important not to sell ourselves or our experiences short. You should always be your best advocate. However, while being your best advocate, it can be tempting to get carried away.

It may sound obvious, but don’t tell employers you have held a position you really didn’t. While there’s nothing wrong with aspiring toward a position you have yet to hold, there are cues potential employers look for to tell whether you’re lying about your experience.

According to Boynton, “Some known resume lies people tell are to claim they held positions that they really didn’t. They also like to lie about the impact they made.”

One of the most common faux pas Boynton has seen in resumes is, “only listing out your title and not explaining what you actually did in your role or the impact you made. I also think it’s a mistake to only list out your work history. You are more than your work, don’t be shy to list your educational achievements and your community involvement.”

Also, avoid embellishing or flat-out lies – you will be caught. “We were once interviewing someone who invented an elaborate tale about why she was let go from her previous job.” says Ghahramani. “I had a friend at that other company who told me the real reason: she was caught stealing people’s lunches!”

Including successes outside of work helps flesh you out as a person and offers clues into the type of person and worker you are. It’s another way of letting your personality shine through in a resume, which isn’t always the easiest thing to do.

Create a highlight reel

One clear way to show you’re not lying is to specify your impact with meaningful details, don’t just create a listicle, your resume should offer a bit more than that.

“To highlight your impact,” says Boynton, “you should write out your responsibilities for each role and your impact. Having these in two separate spaces will highlight how you went above and beyond and how your company benefited from your work.”

How did your actions make an impact, how do they define you? You don’t have a lot of space in a resume, so you want to make sure everything in there is maximizing how valuable you are as a person and potential employee.

The separation is in the preparation

You may not be a football fan or a Russell Wilson fan, but one of his go-to adages makes an excellent point. In any aspect of a competitive situation, research and preparation are paramount, whether it’s the company, the interviewer, the position, whatever, you’ve got to prepare.

Boynton recommends “creating an interview packet when it comes time to interview. I create this packet for every person I interview with. I compile it as if I am putting together a college presentation. On the front cover, I put the interviewer’s name on it and title—and include the following sections in the packet:

• Resume
• About Me: showcasing my community involvement and extracurricular activities
• LinkedIn References
• Additional relevant work geared to the position
• Recommendation Letters
• Any other relevant information.”

It’s not uncommon to be surprised during an interview, and in fact, you should count on it. No amount of preparation will keep surprises from popping up entirely, but the more thoroughly you prepare, the more apt you will be at tackling those surprises when they do arise.

Make no mistake, the temptation to lie on a resume can be very real, but it’ll only cost you in the end. Instead, focus on displaying your skill sets and accomplishments. Lying draws attention to your weaknesses; draw attention to what makes you special. And don’t forget to do your research.