Avoid temptation to spice up your CV with lies

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HONESTY BEST POLICY: Potential employers will check and verify your credentials, qualifications and references when applying for a job.

Workplace Staff

So you’ve just spotted an advertisement for your dream job, something you’d love to do and know you could handle competently.

The only problem is you don’t meet all the criteria that are required and you’re a little underqualified for the position.

A few minor tweaks to your CV would certainly help to make it look like you are perfect, and it wouldn’t do any harm, right?

Wrong! Network Recruitment managing director Niteske Marshall says providing fictitious, exaggerated or otherwise misleading information on a CV is dishonest.

If found out, it could result in that offer you so desperately want being retracted or, once in the position, immediate dismissal is inevitable when the truth comes out.

“Lying on your CV isn’t a criminal offence, but receiving money under the false pretences created by the deceptive CV amounts to CV fraud,” says Marshall.

“People need to be aware that the end result of a misleading CV could well be legal action or even imprisonment.”

There are many elements of the CV that job hunters can manipulate to cover up inadequacies or irregularities in their work record.

The most common CV elements that job hunters change include stretching the dates of previous employment; inflating past accomplishments and skills; enhancing job titles and responsibilities; providing false information related to education and degrees; faking credentials; fabricating reasons for leaving a previous job; and providing fraudulent references.

“No matter how tempting it is to want to fine-tune your CV for an advertised post, don’t,” Marshall warns.

“Potential employers will check and verify your credentials, qualifications and references.

“If there’s an issue you’re concerned about, take control of the situation honestly and be up front about it. It’s unlikely the employer will automatically dismiss you as a candidate because of it.

“In fact, being up front could just demonstrate your ability to manage potentially difficult or uncomfortable situations.”

Lying on your CV poses immediate risks to getting that job you want, but also to your reputation and long-term employability.

Rather be honest when applying for a job, even those you’re not 100 percent qualified for, because the alternative is not worth it.

l Contact Network recruitment at 012 348 4940. Visit www.network recruitment.co.za