Lying on your CV?

[Baldruss]

A recent survey by the BBC suggests that 64% of people either lie or put deliberately misleading information on their CVs. Employers are said to be 'horrified' at this.

Is this really such a bad thing? I can understand it being dangerous if the job is in the medical profession or something like that but for the rest of us, it's no big thing, surely?

If employers didn't make their requirements so unrealistically high then we wouldn't need to do it. My CV is, shall we say, 'creative' in places and no, I'm not appropriately qualified for the job I'm doing but.....I do a damn good job and have done so for 4 years. My employers are none the wiser so nobody gets hurt.

In fact it's better for them: if I really did have the qualifications/experience my CV says I have then I would most likely be looking for higher annual payrises.

It's even illegal to lie on your CV apparently - what the hell for? There are far worse things you could do

[Silverberg]

I'm currently writing my CV, i'm not really lying...but I am twisting things a little so that they're far away enough from the truth to make me seem better but not far away enough from the truth so that people can accuse me of lying.

[Olive]

Is this really such a bad thing?

depends what you're lying about.

i don't see a problem with pretending you enjoy the opera and dostoyevsky when you're really about as cultured as a big mac, or exaggerating the importance of your role as stationary cupboard prefect, but if you're lying about qualifications or experience, they yeah, it's a bad thing.

[Skive]

I have a criminal record yet have never declared it when applying for job. I just leave the 'Criminal Convictions' box blank.

[stargalaxy]

A few weeks ago, I was putting together my CV. When I told nothing but the truth on it, it turned into the most boring document I have ever seen. I don't lie about issues like qualifications and such, but I have put in one or two slight "exaggerations" in the Hobbies & Interests section of mine.

[MrG]

well i know of someone who wrote they were a grade 6 violin player on their CV

the interviewer brought his violin along

[mutya90]

The only lie i ever wrote on an application form was that i play a musical instrument, but i used to play it anyway so i suppose thats not bad, whats tha harm in a few white lies :hyper:
The thing is no employers ever check up on things so they should be horrified - with themselves :naughty:

[Guest_]

I don't lie on it.

Although I sometimes think that I might as well put down that I have 700 years experience, or I'll never get a fucking job.

[stargalaxy]

Although I sometimes think that I might as well put down that I have 700 years experience, or I'll never get a fucking job. I don't blame you.

[Baldruss]

but if you're lying about qualifications or experience, they yeah, it's a bad thing.

But why is that a bad thing?

[stargalaxy]

But why is that a bad thing? Because some employers do checks on these things, and if you're found to be lying about it, guess what would happen? Either they won't give you a job, or you'll be sacked. Honesty is the best policy on the qualifications and experience area of a CV.

[Olive]

But why is that a bad thing?

why the hell should you get any job based on qualifications you haven't got? it's unfair to people who have got them, and worked their ass off to get them.

[Silverberg]

Honesty is the best policy on the qualifications and experience area of a CV.
If you want to be broke and homeless, yes.

[stargalaxy]

If you want to be broke and homeless, yes. So you're saying that you endorse openly lying on CVs?

[Olive]

Mooo! I was disadvantaged. How do you expect someone to perform living in a war zone every day?

a lot of people are disadvantaged.

the first time i took my A levels i was disadvantaged. it would have been very easy to just lie about what had and what grade i had, but instead i re-sat them.

if people are allowed to get away with bumping up a grade here, and making up an extra A level there, the work i did in that year means nothing.

[Baldruss]

why the hell should you get any job based on qualifications you haven't got? it's unfair to people who have got them, and worked their ass off to get them.

Blame the employers for that - they set their standards too high. If their unreasonable demands were lowered then I wouldn't need to lie about my qualifications.

As I said, I'm not fully qualified to do my job but I've been doing it perfectly well for 4 years. The world of employment is dog-eat-dog and you need to do whatever you have to do in order to secure employment IMO.

[Silverberg]

So you're saying that you endorse openly lying on CVs?
Not lying, no...more...imprecise.

[stargalaxy]

Blame the employers for that - they set their standards too high. How do you mean by too high? For example, when I go into a hospital, I want to be treated by a doctor who knows their stuff and is properly qualified, not by someone who botched their exams and lied on their CV to get a job in the first place. I'm rather scared by the prospect of being treated by an unqualified doctor, aren't you?

[Baldruss]

How do you mean by too high? For example, when I go into a hospital, I want to be treated by a doctor who knows their stuff and is properly qualified, not by someone who botched their exams and lied on their CV to get a job in the first place. I'm rather scared by the prospect of being treated by an unqualified doctor, aren't you?


Read my original post again please.

[Olive]

I know what you mean... I'm just basing it on my actual intelligence. I hate being tested.


exams aren't just about intelligence though. just like work isn't just about intelligence. they are as much a measure of how hard you are willing to work for what you want.

[Guest_]

a lot of people are disadvantaged.

I think I've managed to disadvantage myself more by bothering to study a subject for 5 years. Might as well have come straight out of school and started work, and got further along than now. :|

</same old rant> ;)

[Baldruss]

Personally I think experience is more valuable than exams in most jobs. But even experience is easy to 'synthesis' - my usual trick is to set up an accomodation/mail holding service in the name of a company and put it on your CV as where you've been working for the last 5 years or so. If you're going for a job in sales, then your ficticious company was about selling, if you want office work then you worked in their admin department. The good thing is when your prospective employer contacts 'them' for a reference, it'll come to yourself and you end up writing your own sparkling report. Just put down that they don't give verbal references and you're laughing.

[stargalaxy]

Read my original post again please. OK, I did as requested, and have come to the same conclusion as earlier. I find the principle of lying on a CV wrong in the first place. The only area where one can be "creative" as you put it is in the Interests section. I told nothing but the truth in mine, handed it into an adviser at the job centre at an appointment I had there recently. Said it was "good stuff", apparently. Lying won't get you anywhere, someone's bound to find out the truth eventually.

[Baldruss]

OK, I did as requested, and have come to the same conclusion as earlier. I find the principle of lying on a CV wrong in the first place. The only area where one can be "creative" as you put it is in the Interests section. I told nothing but the truth in mine, handed it into an adviser at the job centre at an appointment I had there recently. Said it was "good stuff", apparently. Lying won't get you anywhere, someone's bound to find out the truth eventually.

Ok, I respect your opinion, the reason I mentioned looking at my original post was because you brought up the medical profession which of course requires people to be highly qualified, one cannot argue with that. The same (IMO)goes for professions like Law etc.

However in many many jobs specialist qualifications aren't required, yet are still asked for. I work in IT and would not have got through the front door without at least an HND in Computing however the highest I attained was an AS level, however I've been doing my job for several years without any problems or concerns for my employer. Now had I seen this job and thought "I'm not qualified for this" then I would have missed out on all the great experiences my work has brought me (such as travelling around Europe to their overseas branches).

My employers are happy with me, I love my job, everyone benefits.

[stargalaxy]

My employers are happy with me, I love my job, everyone benefits. Good for you. May I say I hope it all continues to be well for you.

[Skive]

It's worth lying if you can get away with it.
You don't get anywhere in life if you aint prepared to tell a few white lies.

[stargalaxy]

It's worth lying if you can get away with it.
You don't get anywhere in life if you aint prepared to tell a few white lies. Example please?

[Skive]

Example please?

As I ahve already said, I've lied about the fact that I have a criminal record on plenty of applications. I have got away with it i.e it was worth doing.

Misfit.

[Baldruss]

It's worth lying if you can get away with it.
You don't get anywhere in life if you aint prepared to tell a few white lies.

Yes of course it's lying but I feel justified as I see it as the employers' fault. An example for you, Carphone Warehouse require their sales staff to have 2 A Levels or equivalent. Since when did you need just 1 A level to sell mobile phones?

People will say that they ask for this because people who have 2 A levels tend to be perhaps a modicum more intelligent - rubbish, and you don't need A levels to be intelligent.

Incidentally I worked for them for 18 months. Did I have 2 A levels? Did I hell. During that time I met or exceeded my monthly sales targets 14 times and performed very well.

IMO qualifications for this sort of job mean nothing. Think of all the good salespeople they are keeping away by having unreasonable requirements.

[Baldruss]

Btw, what qualifications did Ghandi or Joan of Arc hold? or Jesus for that matter!

They didn't have jobs...Jesus was the Son of God so I suppose nepotism helped there :thumb:

[Mist]

I work in IT and would not have got through the front door without at least an HND in Computing however the highest I attained was an AS level, .

The reasoning behind a qualification for entry into a position is to state that a certain amount of knowledge is required to do it, so people do not waste each other's time. It doesn't necessarily mean that you *must* have that qualification but you should have something that equates to it.

An employer cannot interview every single person in the world for every job, so they set a bar at a certain height saying "don't bother applying if you can't leap this bar."

The fact that you managed to either bullshit or correctly answer the way through any interview and tests suggests that you had the knowledge that the employer was after at the time, or that you were lucky.

Incidentally, the fact that you've been doing a job for a certain number of years is no guarantee of anything either. I know lots of people who have done jobs for years that they are absolutely shit at. They stay in the jobs by sponging off of others that are good at it or through the gift of the gab.

Either way, lying on your CV is, in reality, a fairly bad idea. Any employer that conducts proper checks when they employ you is likely to pull you up for things that you have said that are not true. This could result in you not getting a job that you have interviewed for. At worst, it could result in prosecution.

[Mist]

Oh, I forgot, I'm not Jesus.

I want my dad to be God too! Think of tax reduction. Plus you couldn't get done for stealing because, hey, dad made the world!
You might even get a discount card in all Church of England shops, oooh, and a bumper sticker.

Does anyone ever wonder why jesus didn't just kill the devil when he met him? That just seems dumb to me. Your arch nemesis is right next to him and you let him go. Pathetic.


I think it's to do with killing being evil, and stuff.

[Baldruss]

The reasoning behind a qualification for entry into a position is to state that a certain amount of knowledge is required to do it, so people do not waste each other's time. It doesn't necessarily mean that you *must* have that qualification but you should have something that equates to it.

An employer cannot interview every single person in the world for every job, so they set a bar at a certain height saying "don't bother applying if you can't leap this bar."

True, but is surely unfair and not an accurate way of separating "the wheat from the chaff"

The fact that you managed to either bullshit or correctly answer the way through any interview and tests suggests that you had the knowledge that the employer was after at the time, or that you were lucky.

The former, thanks :D

But still, it shows that the qualification 'required' simply aren't required.

Incidentally, the fact that you've been doing a job for a certain number of years is no guarantee of anything either. I know lots of people who have done jobs for years that they are absolutely shit at. They stay in the jobs by sponging off of others that are good at it or through the gift of the gab.

I can be fairly certain I'm doing a good job - our company has monthly appraisals based on performance and targets - I would not have lasted more than 6 months had my work not been satisfactory.

Either way, lying on your CV is, in reality, a fairly bad idea. Any employer that conducts proper checks when they employ you is likely to pull you up for things that you have said that are not true. This could result in you not getting a job that you have interviewed for. At worst, it could result in prosecution.

I still disagree it's bad idea unless you are reckless with it. Putting down you have a degree in IT would only work if you have good knowledge on it to bluff you out of any situations where you're tested on it. However I've been working with computers for more than 10 years and I'm confident my experience is more than enough to aid me - the facts speak for themselves. I do a good job.

[Mist]

But that's what I said.


It doesn't necessarily mean that you *must* have that qualification but you should have something that equates to it.


If the employer didn't put any qualification requirements on their list then they would have all sorts of people applying and that means that you have a massive job even just selecting who to interview. A line has to be drawn somewhere, and for an employer some kind of qualifications are ususally a helpfull guide to a person's general skill level.

Of course, if you can see that someone has x years working then less importance will be put onto what subjects they studied.

But the point is that if you lie, either about the experience you have or the qualifications that you have, and you have nothing to substitute for those lies, then you are wasting everyone's time applying for a job that needs such things.

[Mist]

Yeah, because burning the antichrist and all his followers isn't evil?

it depends on whether killing in itself is considered evil, even if the thing you are killing is the very personifcation of evil.

yarrr.

[HunnyPot]

I think it's okay if, as Kaffrin says, you exaggerate your hobbies and interests, as I don't think they have any bearings on your ability to do the job or what you could bring to the company, or maybe extending experience in a certain job by a few months, but outright lying about experience, qualifications and a criminal record, that's wrong and unfair. I'd rather get a job I knew I was qualified for than one I'd lied to get and have doubts over my success.

[Baldruss]

Even if you 'knew' you could do it?

[Mist]

Even if you 'knew' you could do it?

Knowing you can do it is really not the point. I think I'd make a pretty good fighter pilot, but that doesn't make me qualified to fly over Iraq and drop bombs.

[Mist]

Well your only going to get the job and keep it if your good enough. If not then you wont be there for long.
If it was something like a degree then I wouldn't lie, but I know I deserved higher results at GCSE, that's all.

You may have *deserved* them, but other people actually got them. It's not very fair if, for example, you simply claim to have decent results and get an interview, wheras someone who does have those resullts misses out.

To me there is an element of selfishness involved in creative CVisms that says "I didn't actually get / do any of this work, but I think I deserve to have it on my CV anyway".

[Acrobat]

To me there is an element of selfishness involved in creative CVisms that says "I didn't actually get / do any of this work, but I think I deserve to have it on my CV anyway".

Exactly. Like kaffrin said earlier, she did resits to get the grades she felt she deserved, not lied about it on her CV. That way, she really did get what she deserved through hard work, not just what she felt like.

If I went for a job and someone who had lied about their qualifications or experience got it over me, I would be really REALLY angry.

[Olive]

i hope none of you creative CV-ers believe in karma.

if you didn't do the amount of word required to get the grade you think you deserve, you don't deserve it.

[Skive]

You may have *deserved* them, but other people actually got them. It's not very fair if, for example, you simply claim to have decent results and get an interview, wheras someone who does have those resullts misses out.

Fairs got fuck all to do with it.
If you can lie your way into a job and then do it to the standard required then fair play to you. Not having the qualifications some employers ask for doesn't mean you're not going to be any good at the job, and not everybody's going to have had the chance to go to college or uni.

I pretty much bluffed my way into the job that I have now. I neither had experience or the right qualifications, and there were others who 'deserved' the job more. But then I've worked bloody hard and I do my job well.
Why be a mug and go to uni when you know you can blag your way into a good job. :D

[Welsh Jemz]

i can honestly say i've never lied on my CV :eek2:

i never saw the point in it. every single bit of info is true :D

[Mist]

Fairs got fuck all to do with it.
If you can lie your way into a job and then do it to the standard required then fair play to you. Not having the qualifications some employers ask for doesn't mean you're not going to be any good at the job, and not everybody's going to have had the chance to go to college or uni.

I pretty much bluffed my way into the job that I have now. I neither had experience or the right qualifications, and there were others who 'deserved' the job more. But then I've worked bloody hard and I do my job well.
Why be a mug and go to uni when you know you can blag your way into a good job. :D

Fair has everything to do with it. Your attitude is piss poor.

People who do go to uni deserve more of a chance, that is why they go to uni, that is why some things are more accessible to people who have the degree on their CV.

But of course, in your system, everyone should just say fuck it and put down whatever they like on the CV. Because that would work. :/

[Skive]

Fair has everything to do with it. Your attitude is piss poor.

My attitude got me my job thanks. I got my foot in the door then I worked my fucking arse off to keep the job.
You don't get very far in this life if you're constantly worried about being fair - that's a mugs game.

People who do go to uni deserve more of a chance, that is why they go to uni, that is why some things are more accessible to people who have the degree on their CV.

People who strive for the job and are going to work hard deserve the job above anyone. A degree isn't accessible to everyone.

Since left college I've been in employment earning good cash and finding out what I want to do. All the while my mates have been penniless at uni, working up a fuckign great debt, getting degrees in something they now know they don't enjoy, and I'm already earning several thousand pound more than they are. Result.

But of course, in your system, everyone should just say fuck it and put down whatever they like on the CV. Because that would work. :/

It worked for me. Sorry if you don't like it but if you can get away with it, it does work.

[Baldruss]

Fair has everything to do with it.

I disagree. Today's marketplace is almost a battlefield, and all's fair in love and war.

People who do go to uni deserve more of a chance, that is why they go to uni, that is why some things are more accessible to people who have the degree on their CV.

Certain domestic factors prevented me from going to uni. had these occurances not taken place then I'm certain I would have gone and hopefully obtained a degree in my chosen field. Why should circumstances beyong my control prevent me from doing a job I know I can do?

[Mist]

My attitude got me my job thanks. I got my foot in the door then I worked my fucking arse off to keep the job.


You don't see any problem with it because you're benefiting from it, but it is still the wrong attitude to have.

I hope when you leave your current job and go on to interview for another that some punk kid with no experience bluffs his way into the position that you want.

That would be suitable karma.

[Mist]

Certain domestic factors prevented me from going to uni. had these occurances not taken place then I'm certain I would have gone and hopefully obtained a degree in my chosen field. Why should circumstances beyong my control prevent me from doing a job I know I can do?

They shouldn't, but the circumstances shouldn't have stopped you from starting at the bottom and working your way up, either. You have basically taken the lazy way out.

[Mist]

Jesus I'll do the bloody exams if it makes you happy!

I just don't want to lose out to creative cv'ers.

It's not something that will bother me either way, but objectively faking your CV is the wrong thing to do, that's the point I'm trying to make.

[Mist]

I didn't take GCSE English so I clearly didn't know what I was writing. It's a simple mistake to make.

yes, exactly, my good man.

:eek2:

[Vision-Razor]

The attitudes i'm seeing here piss me right the fuck off. I left school myself with fuck all but 2 GCSE c's in science. Did i piss and moan that it was unfair? That i should have got this result and that? No i gritted my teeth, got a shitty night job washing dishes and WORKED for the qualifications i needed to get into my chosen profession. I worked hard for 5 years. Listening to some of you bastards actually gloating you got jobs you didn't work for or deserve is fucking sickening and even worse an convicted criminal gloating that he doesn't declare that. People like you make a dedicated athiest like me hope there is a god, because then you'll have to face your maker some day and then we'd see if you're so cocky.

[Mist]

The attitudes i'm seeing here piss me right the fuck off. I left school myself with fuck all but 2 GCSE c's in science. Did i piss and moan that it was unfair? That i should have got this result and that? No i gritted my teeth, got a shitty night job washing dishes and WORKED for the qualifications i needed to get into my chosen profession. I worked hard for 5 years. Listening to some of you bastards actually gloating you got jobs you didn't work for or deserve is fucking sickening and even worse an convicted criminal gloating that he doesn't declare that. People like you make a dedicated athiest like me hope there is a god, because then you'll have to face your maker some day and then we'd see if you're so cocky.


I'm glad that someone gets it at least.

[littlemissy]

What I'm saying is that if I can get 3 B's a C and a D with 40% attendance, and 2 days of course work plus beatings and psychological torture at home then I could have attained results similar to my sister had I been given the opportunity.
Gah, I don't want to get into this, I don't like arguing.

But you didn't. That is the point. Others have and deserve to do better.

If you think you are capable of getting the grades then go back and do it. Go and *earn* your job or whatever.

[Skive]

I'm not being cocky, I'm just simply opening your eyes to the fact there are a number of ways to be successful. i.e you don't have to go to uni and run up a debt or scrape your way through on an aprentaship if your clever.

I went to college and bassically wasted two years gaining A levels I have never used. It took me those two years to realise I didn't know what I wanted to do. I've been working ever since, trying out different things and having fun - never signed on and all the while payed my taxes.

Then I had an opertunity and I took it. Blagged myself a quality job.
I have my own assistant, a company car, a company phone, two company laptops and an excellent bonus scheme. After getting this job I have had to work bloody hard to keep it - and I'm proud of it. My employers happy, I'm happy.

Are you honestly saying that if a perfect job opertunity came up you wouldn't be prepared to tell a few white lies to ensure you get it. If you think like that your a mug. Wisen up because that's the way life works.

[littlemissy]

You don't realise how much this angers me. I can't re-live my entire fucking life just because some fuck head drunk policeman ruined the first years. I'm not wasting MY TIME fannying about trying to get my life back on track when I am perfectly well aware that I am capable of doing something!


Erm, I'm not telling you "to relive your fucking life". Plenty of people get qualifications after they leave school so if you are capable of what you say you are it shouldn't be any problem and won't take long either.

By lying on yur CV about your qualifications, does it not feel like you are cheating your way through life?

[littlemissy]

I'm not being cocky, I'm just simply opening your eyes to the fact there are a number of ways to be successful. i.e you don't have to go to uni and run up a debt or scrape your way through on an aprentaship if your clever.

That is not cockiness, you are right. There are other ways of being successful rather than going to university. but you can be successful without going to university and without lying to get to where you are.


I went to college and bassically wasted two years gaining A levels I have never used. It took me those two years to realise I didn't know what I wanted to do. I've been working ever since, trying out different things and having fun - never signed on and all the while payed my taxes.

Then I had an opertunity and I took it. Blagged myself a quality job.
I have my own assistant, a company car, a company phone, two company laptops and an excellent bonus scheme. After getting this job I have had to work bloody hard to keep it - and I'm proud of it. My employers happy, I'm happy.

But don't you feel like you cheated? That you didn't earn what you have achieved? I know I certainly would.


Are you honestly saying that if a perfect job opertunity came up you wouldn't be prepared to tell a few white lies to ensure you get it. If you think like that your a mug. Wisen up because that's the way life works.

There is a difference between "a few white lies" and lying about your qualifications. I can honestly say, hand on heart, that I would not lie about the qualifications I have in order to get a better job.

What would've happened if they asked for proof of your qualifications? What would you have done then? The company would've been completely in the right to ask for proof that you have what you say you have.

[Skive]

By lying on yur CV about your qualifications, does it not feel like you are cheating your way through life?

Does it fuck!
I used my brain to ge the job, and now I do it well. Maybe uni and qualifictions isn't always the best way?

Why are some of the people on here getting so worked up about this anyway? If you've gone to uni surely you've got no problems in getting work?

[Skive]

But don't you feel like you cheated? That you didn't earn what you have achieved? I know I certainly would.

No because although I did very little work to get the job, I've worked bloody hard to keep it. Therefore I deserve it IMO.

There is a difference between "a few white lies" and lying about your qualifications. I can honestly say, hand on heart, that I would not lie about the qualifications I have in order to get a better job.

Not if you can get away with it? That makes no sense to me.

What would've happened if they asked for proof of your qualifications? What would you have done then? The company would've been completely in the right to ask for proof that you have what you say you have.

But they didn't.

[littlemissy]

Does it fuck!
I used my brain to ge the job, and now I do it well. Maybe uni and qualifictions isn't always the best way?

No, you didn't use your brain, you lied. There is a difference.


Why are some of the people on here getting so worked up about this anyway? If you've gone to uni surely you've got no problems in getting work?

Because it is people like you who take away all the jobs for the people who deserve it. It is because of people like you that I am currently struggling to get work.

Just because you have gone to university it doesn't guarantee you a job. You are in the same boat as everyone else. However, it *should* guarantee you a job suitable for a graduate over someone who has just lied to even get an interview.

[littlemissy]

No because although I did very little work to get the job, I've worked bloody hard to keep it. Therefore I deserve it IMO.

No you don't. Because you didn't deserve it in the first place. Simple as.


Not if you can get away with it? That makes no sense to me.

No, I definitely wouldn't say that I had extra qualifications that I didn't have. It is wrong and I would definitely feel like I had cheated my way to a good position. It is wrong. Simple as.


But they didn't.

Then you were lucky.

[Skive]

No, you didn't use your brain, you lied. There is a difference.

I was clever enough to get the job. I saw an oppertunity and I took it.

Because it is people like you who take away all the jobs for the people who deserve it. It is because of people like you that I am currently struggling to get work.

Maybe you made the wrong choice then - obviously grades aint always enough. If you go to uni and work hard you deserve qualifications - you don't automatically deserve a job.

[Skive]

No you don't. Because you didn't deserve it in the first place. Simple as.

Employers don't employ people on the basis of whether they deserve it - they employ people who they think can do a good job. I told them I could and then I proved it.

Some of you are complaining this isn't fair - and you're right it isn't. So wisen up and don't be so naive.

[girl with sharp teeth]

.

[Mist]

Employers don't employ people on the basis of whether they deserve it - they employ people who they think can do a good job. I told them I could and then I proved it.

Some of you are complaining this isn't fair - and you're right it isn't. So wisen up and don't be so naive.


The employer basis the decision on a couple of things - your cv, and how you do in the interview. Now, someone who lies on the CV then has the opportunity to interview that, in truth, they should not have. It sounds as if you were then fortunate enough to have an interviewer who did not test you too hard, so be it, you got the job.

That doesn't mean you deserved it, because, essentially, if you lied to get the interview in the first place then you deserved nothing. Maybe you can do the job now, maybe you do a shit job, who knows? Maybe someone with the right qualifications or experience would do the job a lot better than you. Noone will ever know of course because you have it, they are just possibilites.

It's not being naive to say that you shouldn't alter your CV to pretend that you're something you are not. You are being fraudulent. It seems for you that that is acceptable, I for one would say that it isn't, but then I would also like to think that I would employ the best person for a job.

I'd just have to hope that when I give the interview that "the best person" doesn't get missed from my selection of candidates because someone else lied about their skills.

[Mist]

if that pretty piece of paper is all that is barring the best candidate for the job from applying then something is wrong.

But that goes back to what I have said from the start. You're saying it from the point of view that someone is entitled to lie because they think that they are the best person. But, whilst that person is lieing, someone else with the real skills might have to be missed from the interview level.

Then what has happened is that the piece of paper has barred the best candidate, but it's barred the one who really was the best candidate, and not the one who is lying to be the best of those that get to interview.

[girl with sharp teeth]

.

[Mist]

I'm not saying someone who lies is the best person for the job. I'm saying that qualifications do not make the best person for the job. If someone does not have the requisite skills then they will be found out pretty damn quick. If they don't then they actually do know their stuff and it was not a mistake to employ them.

Of course it wasn't, if they can do the job then they have been a reasonable candidate. (Unless the qualification is one that is needed for eg a doctor, teacher or other responsible position that passes on the knowledge, that's a whole different kettle of fish.)

However, that doesn't excuse the fact that, by lying, they could easily be stopping a better person from getting the job.

That's (some of) the problem with it.

[girl with sharp teeth]

.

[Mist]

How are they stopping a better candidate from getting it? If the employer chooses them over a better candidate then it is the employer's judgement that needs to be called into question.

Because at the start of the process all you have is the bits of paper. Clearly you are going to pick the most suitable looking bits of paper. If one of them is a tissue of lies then that lieing person can nudge out someone who really does have the knowledge / skills rather than just being a blagger.

Of course, they then might get found out at interview, which has then wasted everyone's time, or they could go on to do an average job, most probably a poorer job than the person that really did have the quals would have done.

[girl with sharp teeth]

.

[Mist]

I don't think there's much point taking this any further because it's obvious that we both disagree with each other :)

Ok.

[girl with sharp teeth]

.

[Skive]

Of course, they then might get found out at interview, which has then wasted everyone's time, or they could go on to do an average job, most probably a poorer job than the person that really did have the quals would have done.

I didn't even have an interview as such. My mate who was already an Engineer recomended my for the job and then told me what my boss would want to hear. My 'interview' took place on the phone.

they could go on to do an average job, most probably a poorer job than the person that really did have the quals would have done.

How the fuck can you tell that? If I didn't do a good job I'd be out of one - simple as. And I certainly wouldn't have got my £400 bonus last month.

At the end of the day I look out for myself.
If a perfect job opertunity arose, you knew you could do it depsite not having the same experience as another applicant would you not be prepared to lie a little? You'd be a mug if you didn't.

[Doofay]

I think this argument is split between the people that think that the grades are what matters, and the people that think the ability to do it does. I think if you can do the job as well as somebody else, and have a couple of lies on your CV, then why the fuck not? Without trying to reitterate all the other arguments, yes you put the work in, yes you got the grades, but if somebody has the ability to do the job then they obviously are well enough qualified to do it without the piece of paper that says you can. After all, some people can fully understand the subject yet fuck the exam, or not understand the subject yet waltz through the exam.

If someone who lies on their CV can't do the job, then they'll be sacked during their probationary period. If they can, then fair play to them. Doesn't make any of the other applicants with the pieces of paper any better ;o

[Kentish]

I think this argument is split between the people that think that the grades are what matters, and the people that think the ability to do it does.
Not really. It's about whether you can justify making false claims about yourself in order to get a job that you think you are entitled to, and qualified for.
I think if you can do the job as well as somebody else, and have a couple of lies on your CV, then why the fuck not?
Because it is then you as the potential employee deciding who is best for the job and not the employer. Based on lies.

I'm going to have to side with those who would not accept liars as employees.

[Mist]

Not really. It's about whether you can justify making false claims about yourself in order to get a job that you think you are entitled to, and qualified for.

Because it is then you as the potential employee deciding who is best for the job and not the employer. Based on lies.

I'm going to have to side with those who would not accept liars as employees.

Exactly.

[Baldruss]

The attitudes i'm seeing here piss me right the fuck off. I left school myself with fuck all but 2 GCSE c's in science. Did i piss and moan that it was unfair? That i should have got this result and that? No i gritted my teeth, got a shitty night job washing dishes and WORKED for the qualifications i needed to get into my chosen profession. I worked hard for 5 years. Listening to some of you bastards actually gloating you got jobs you didn't work for or deserve is fucking sickening and even worse an convicted criminal gloating that he doesn't declare that. People like you make a dedicated athiest like me hope there is a god, because then you'll have to face your maker some day and then we'd see if you're so cocky.

Sorry mate but the world of work is dog-eat-dog and we need to do whatever we can go ensure employment. Don't blame people like me, blame the employers for establishing unrealistic and unreasonable standards.

[Skive]

Not really. It's about whether you can justify making false claims about yourself in order to get a job that you think you are entitled to, and qualified for.

It's not about going for the job you think you're 'entitiled' to, it's about going for what you want. And the only thing I have to justify is whether or not I can do the job, and I think I have proved I can.

What matters to me is that I got the job. Selfish? Yes!
..but as I said your a mug if you can let an opertunity go like that.
If I can learn and do the job without the right qualifications, then it's a bloody good thing I didn't waste my time at Uni.

[Doofay]

Not really. It's about whether you can justify making false claims about yourself in order to get a job that you think you are entitled to, and qualified for.


Because it is then you as the potential employee deciding who is best for the job and not the employer. Based on lies.

I'm going to have to side with those who would not accept liars as employees.

When you put it that way, yes you're right.

But when you take it out of the context of morals and into the context of real life, anybody who says they'd rather apply for a £40,000 a year job that they knew they had enough qualifications to get yet they wouldn't enjoy over a £100,000 a year job they knew they could get with a bit of tweaking is either a liar, or completely fucking stupid.

Oh, and you're a liar too. As is just about everybody in existance.

[Olive]

But when you take it out of the context of morals and into the context of real life, anybody who says they'd rather apply for a £40,000 a year job that they knew they had enough qualifications to get yet they wouldn't enjoy over a £100,000 a year job they knew they could get with a bit of tweaking is either a liar, or completely fucking stupid.

again, it depends what you mean by tweaking.

exaggerating experience is one thing. i mean, if you worked in a shop, and you occasionally had to cash up, i wouldn't have a problem with someone saying they had 'financial responsibility within the company'. making menial tasks sound important and exciting is the whole point of a CV.

but if you never worked in the shop in the first place, and you say you were the assistant manager, you're out of order. if you don't have your maths and english GCSE, and you pretend you have Bs to get a job, you're out of order. whether you can do the job or not is beside the point. i think i could teach english, but i'm not about to pretend i have a PGCE and 3 years experience in order to get it. if that makes me an idiot, then i'm happy being an idiot.

[Doofay]

again, it depends what you mean by tweaking.

exaggerating experience is one thing. i mean, if you worked in a shop, and you occasionally had to cash up, i wouldn't have a problem with someone saying they had 'financial responsibility within the company'. making menial tasks sound important and exciting is the whole point of a CV.

but if you never worked in the shop in the first place, and you say you were the assistant manager, you're out of order. if you don't have your maths and english GCSE, and you pretend you have Bs to get a job, you're out of order. whether you can do the job or not is beside the point. i think i could teach english, but i'm not about to pretend i have a PGCE and 3 years experience in order to get it. if that makes me an idiot, then i'm happy being an idiot.

Aye. I've not personally lied on a CV, but i think bending the truth slightly - fo instance, i never did any car audio fits at Halfords, but saying i had experience working with car audio wouldn't be bad - seeing as i did sell the things and arrange the fits :p

[Olive]

Aye. I've not personally lied on a CV, but i think bending the truth slightly - fo instance, i never did any car audio fits at Halfords, but saying i had experience working with car audio wouldn't be bad - seeing as i did sell the things and arrange the fits :p

well that's just common sense ;)

you did have experience working with car audio. you were working, the car audio was there, you sold some. that's not lying at all, that's creatively telling the truth. same way my 2 week filing job becomes 'organisation and administrative experience within a multinational company'. if you had said, 'i have experience fitting car audio', then that would be lying.

you'd be amazed how good i made mr. k's halfords experience sound, and it was all the truth. just cleverly worded, with a few buzzwords chucked in to excite them.

[HunnyPot]

The attitudes i'm seeing here piss me right the fuck off. I left school myself with fuck all but 2 GCSE c's in science. Did i piss and moan that it was unfair? That i should have got this result and that? No i gritted my teeth, got a shitty night job washing dishes and WORKED for the qualifications i needed to get into my chosen profession. I worked hard for 5 years. Listening to some of you bastards actually gloating you got jobs you didn't work for or deserve is fucking sickening and even worse an convicted criminal gloating that he doesn't declare that. People like you make a dedicated athiest like me hope there is a god, because then you'll have to face your maker some day and then we'd see if you're so cocky.

:heart:

[stargalaxy]

Anyway, how am I to afford to live, pay off £30,000 worth debts and fund evening classes without a well paid job? I couldn't do it I assure you. Sadly, it does seem that circumstances increasingly mean people have no choice but to lie. Should I go to university in future, I may well have to resort to these tactics. I don't condone what you're doing, but I can't condemn you for it either.

[Vision-Razor]

Instead I'll lie on my CV now stating the grades I predict for myself, then I'll do the exam later on when I've made some money.

But the fact of the matter is YOU DIDN'T GET THAT RESULT and you are not qualified to judge what tou should have got, that what exam boards are for. You think you should have got it and saying you did is dishonest to everyone including youself. Saying you are going to get it when you have the chance is pure crap. We both know you have no intention, your next excuse would be that you've made it this far with out it why get it now? Whats the wheather like in cloud cookoo land?

At this point i would also like to point out that lying about this kind of thing is illegal as is not declaring a criminal conviction.

[Acrobat]

Sadly, it does seem that circumstances increasingly mean people have no choice but to lie. Should I go to university in future, I may well have to resort to these tactics. I don't condone what you're doing, but I can't condemn you for it either.
If you go to university though, surely you would have the qualifications like basic English, Maths and Science?

Also, on the topic of lying on a CV-is leaving something out bad, or not? It isn't crucial, only my AS level Sociology grade, but with a D grade I don't feel particularly putting it on there to taint the rest of my A, B and C grades :p

[lucifer devil]

I've never lied about my qualifications/exam results or anything like that 'cause knowing my luck I'd probably get caught out. However I would perhaps lie a little in the 'hobbies and interests' section just to make myself sound interesting.

[lucifer devil]

If you go to university though, surely you would have the qualifications like basic English, Maths and Science?

Also, on the topic of lying on a CV-is leaving something out bad, or not? It isn't crucial, only my AS level Sociology grade, but with a D grade I don't feel particularly putting it on there to taint the rest of my A, B and C grades :p

It depends on the University and the course you're doing, I got into University with a D in maths (GCSE) and a D in science (though I had good english grades).

I wouldn't have a problem with the D in AS Sociology, a D is still a pass. IMO, it's not going to taint your other grades one bit. It will just show that you have studied one more subject and while you perhaps didn't get an A or something, you still got a grade.


I was filling in an application form the other day and with regards to my GCSE results, I like to put the highest grades first. Though sometimes I know they like them to be in alphabetical order.

[*DEVIL*]

I think someone applying for the same job as me lying would really annoy me and to be quite honest it would be very unfair. I have known people to do that when applying for uni, i always tell the truth my CV is never boring for the simple fact that i never sit down and have time for myself, all i do is voluntary work and help others therefore i take pictures to interviews and i can give an honest account of what i do and when. People who lie will one day be discovered the sooner the better for honest truthful citizens!

[Kermit]

Gah, I think the point is being spectacularly missed here.

Downright lying, such as inventing qualifications, is wrong. Small-scale lying, such as bigging up experience, or bending the facts of experience (I got this job on "office admin" experience that never fully happened) is, whilst not being acceptable, is de rigeur.

If you don't build up your experience then you are a fool. If you don't make up little white lies in your CV then you are a fool. If you make up qualifications or serious experience then you deserve to have your legs broken.

But someone lying isn't "preventing" anyone else from getting the job. If you have the experience and qualifications they asked for, you will be interviewed. If you don't, you won't. So to extend this, the only thing that is happening is lying under-qualified people are stopping truthful under-qualified people from getting a job, a job that they wouldn't get anyway.

[Man Of Kent]

Downright lying, such as inventing qualifications, is wrong.

Not just "wrong" but fraud too. Instant dismissal is the least of your worries.

[wheresmyplacebo]

It depends on the University and the course you're doing, I got into University with a D in maths (GCSE) and a D in science (though I had good english grades).

I wouldn't have a problem with the D in AS Sociology, a D is still a pass. IMO, it's not going to taint your other grades one bit. It will just show that you have studied one more subject and while you perhaps didn't get an A or something, you still got a grade.


I was filling in an application form the other day and with regards to my GCSE results, I like to put the highest grades first. Though sometimes I know they like them to be in alphabetical order.

just list them in order of results so they can see yuor strengths

and a d may be a pass, dont make it any good though, on my ucas i lied saying i didnt do any as's cause i got an e for as psychology, didnt revise one bit for it as i jus done it to fill gap

i got accepted to all my courses still :p