Should I lie on my resume?

Ginger Korljan — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:34:14 +0000

Today I learned about a new website which for a fee, will fabricate job history, degrees, and references for a résumé. Their justification? “A résumé is not a legal document.” They even provide an answering service if a potential employer wants to follow up with a phone call. I was astonished that any company would be so brazen to attempt this outright illegal activity, and even more astonished that people are actually buying it!

Everyone has something in their past they wish had not happened. Very few people possess a spotless work history. Besides the obvious “What if I get caught?” concern, deep down you would know if you got a job under false pretenses. You would know the truth.

I have a friend in the insurance business. Early in his career, he made an error that resulted in a large premium increase for one of his customers. Instead of trying to hide his mistake, he made an appointment with the customer, admitted his error and humbly waited to accept the consequences. Instead, the customer admired his honesty, and told his employer he only wanted this man to work on his accounts, because he knew he could trust him.

Are trust, honesty, and integrity no longer valued in corporate America? I don’t think so, and if you are tempted to lie you may get short-term rewards, but long-term disappointment.

So what to do if you are currently struggling to find a job, and worry that your less-than-stellar work history may be to blame? This is not an easy question to answer in one posting, but consider these suggestions:

Ensure your résumé is targeted to a specific job, and include relevant reasons why you should be selected.
Don’t rely on one job search method. Instead employ a multi-faceted approach.
Make the most of your personal and professional network, and expand it as much and as often as possible.
If trying to change careers, consider volunteering or shadowing someone you admire in the field.
Update your professional education to increase your knowledge and employability.

But never, never lie on your résumé, no matter how tempting it may seem. It is never worth it!

Which resume format to use when emailing a company?

Ginger Korljan — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 17:25:40 +0000

I read today in Martin Yate’s book “Cover Letters that Knock ‘em Dead” that when you email someone who doesn’t know you, it is best to cut and paste a resume in text or ascii form directly into the email message instead of including it as an attachment. If you do this, make sure that the formatting, although simple, is clear and easy to read. Many people are hesitant to open attachments from people they do not know, but they may read a cover letter and resume in the body of your email.

If you are told to include your resume as an attachment, act with caution. If you use Microsoft Word, the person receiving it may have a different version or another word processing software altogether so find out before you send the resume so the formatting will be as you intend it. If you can send the resume as a pdf file, it will always look the same, however, if the person does not have adobe acrobat they might be out of luck.

If you have the option of sending a resume through the mail, follow the following guidelines:

- Print the resume and cover letter on matching white or off-white resume bond paper
- Do not fold or staple the resume or cover letter, mail it in a long envelope.
- Address the cover letter by name to a specific hiring official within the company
- Hand address the envelope. It will get more personal attention.

Whether you email or mail your resume and cover letter, follow up with a phone call in about a week to ensure your resume has been received and to find out where they are in the hiring process. Ask for an interview and express your genuine interest.

Good luck!

Take Charge Coaching » Resumes

Should I lie on my resume?

Which resume format to use when emailing a company?