White Lies and Embellishments - Honest CVs and Interviews

How many of us lie on our CVs, and is this a problem when going for a job?

Recently, we at Brite Recruitment were taken aback by a published article that reported, “when asked if they have lied on their CV, 51 percent of UK adults said yes.” The suggestion that over half of the UK population lie on their CV may be a hard one to grasp; however, it does happen. But when does this become a problem? And can this affect your offer of a job?

Dress Code at the Workplace
Dress Code at the Workplace

Whether it is your intention to impress the interviewer with your hobbies, interests, and personality, or with your slightly exaggerated account of your work experience, we at Brite Recruitment believe that it is important that you know the difference between embellishing, and lying - right, and wrong.

Too often, impressing your interviewer becomes synonymous with deception. According to surveys completed by CareCheck, a leading DBS check provider, 34% of UK adults fibbed about their hobbies and interests in their CV. This is a common exaggeration, which usually doesn’t cause much of a problem when interviewing or being checked for a job offer. Although this could cause an awkward conversation down the line, when your boss finds out you are not a fitness fanatic and can’t bench press 100kgs!

The big problem is altering your grades and levels of education. One in five adults lied about their A-Level results (or equivalent) and 8% fabricated information about their degrees. As a recruitment agency, we have seen cases in which candidates have reported an incorrect grade on their CV, and as a result their job offer has been withdrawn!

Therefore, not only is lying on your CV unnecessary, it can have huge consequences! As a result, we certainly do not recommend lying about your experience or qualifications on your CV.

Thus, the difference between lying and embellishing is important:

Dress Code at the Workplace

To Lie:

To lie is to make an assertion that is untrue, with the intention of deceiving your audience. Usually for your own benefit.

To Embellish:

To embellish is to make something more desirable and attractive, by adding additional decorative details and features.

So, for a successful interviewing and vetting process for your dream job, remember these big DON’T’S:

  • Don’t lie about your qualifications – Grades aren’t everything, and so you should strive to impress your employer with your experience and personality.
  • Don’t lie about your capabilities – it doesn’t benefit you or your employer if you can’t handle a role’s responsibilities and can save you both time and stress if you are honest about them.
  • Don’t lie about your dates and positions of employments – Often an employer will check with your references and listed companies you claim to have worked for, and so any misaligning information will not go in your favour.

Instead, when you go for that next job, remember to focus on your good attributes. DO highlight your interests that align with the companies’ values, and present your sense of professionalism and loyalty.

DO your research about the company, and have a confident understanding of what you are applying for, before editing your CV or attending an interview.

DO share situations that demonstrate your perfect match for the requirements of the role.

DO register with Brite Recruitment so we can help you along the way.

We will match you so perfectly with your next role, that there will be no need to lie – and that is not an embellishment on our behalf!

So, register your CV and apply for jobs today!

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