Most of you are probably familiar with the TV show friends . Even if you are not, here’s a perfect example of Joey’s situation regarding lying on CVs:
[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D30U-nz_Hts[/pro-player]
Of course it is a ludicrous idea to lie about speaking a foreign language fluently when you don’t even know a word or about digging in Cairo when you haven’t been there but it is not uncommon practice for job applicants to lie on their resumés. Beginner levels are stated as intermediate and intermediate as advanced. Experiences are exaggerated and told in a more impressive way than they actually happened. So how much do you lie (if ever;) when applying to a job?
Normally, I don’t. I believe they can always check you out and find you out. Or worse, you can get caught after you get the job which is more embarrassing. But recently I have stumbled upon some job ads that made me actually, really want to lie.
Here’s why:
1) Most writing ads state they only want native speakers. Because all native speakers are better writers? International writers can’t have perfect command on English? Well, this is logic is stupid at best and makes me want to lie, just to prove the idiots who post these kinds of ads wrong. Because usually the ads include statements like: “No internationals please.” “Don’t even bother if you are not a native speaker.” OK. But how the hell are you going to prove I am not a native? My country of residence doesn’t prove anything and I can fool you with my skills. Oh,and the payment method is PayPal.
The lesson? Well, I am all for lying when there is discrimination. It is also a bonus when they can’t prove it. Of course it is best not to apply at all- when you decide that your potential employer is narrow-minded.
2) Unclear job ads: Oh, it is priceless when a job ad asks all sorts of information from you: cover letter, resumé, portfolio, salary expectation,years of experience…This is all too much effort but it does seem pointless if the potential employer hasn’t revealed any important information on their part. Who are they? If they even kept their website/company name confidential, why should I bother to apply? Who are these people? What are the advantages of working with/for them? What’s in it for me? Any job involves at least two parties. I am not going to provide a company who hasn’t bothered to fill in the blanks with my life story. Time is money and I am not spending on them.
Job-hunting is by nature a painful process. Double-standards, one-sided expectations, discriminations and funny anecdotes should always be shared. The gap of the power levels of the employer and the employees only get bigger if candidates desperately say yes to everything without questioning. Sure, the economy is tough. But then again, job- hunting has never been smooth sailing. So why don’t you assess yourself and make an honest assumption of what you are worth? Then decide if you should decide whether to “exaggerate” or “lie”. Maybe you shouldn’t consider that particular job at all.
For related articles, you can click on the links below: (if right clicking on your mouse doesn’t work, try copy pasting.)
* on interview techniques:
http://www.bukisa.com/articles/212726_bizarre-business-interview-techniques
* selling your career
http://www.bukisa.com/articles/213643_its-all-about-sales
* relationship between the job interviewer and the interviewee
http://www.bukisa.com/articles/212727_the-power-play-between-the-potential-employer-and-the-employee