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Every job applicant wants to look their best on a resume or during a job interview. After all, the person viewed as the best will likely get the job.  But how far are you willing to go to leave that golden impression? Maybe stretching the truth a bit? Rating your skill levels a tad higher than they actually are? Outright lying? In reality, job seekers do all the above.

Politicians are famous for putting a “spin” on any situation so they always come out smelling like a rose. Similarly, applicants also want to cast themselves in the best possible light.  Experienced interviewers are well aware most candidates engage in a bit of “puffing.”  Merriam-Webster defines puffing as “to praise extravagantly and usually with exaggeration.” For example, consider an applicant who actually won sales awards only two months last year. On a resume or during an interview, the person may puff this somewhat modest achievement as “regularly” winning sales awards.

OK, so there is some deception out there. But how bad is it? According to a survey by Flexjobs, a job site specializing in listings for remote/work-from-home/flexible positions, “1 in 3 respondents (33%) have admitted to lying on a resume or cover letter.” Even worse, according to a survey by StandOutCV, a site providing CV advice and resources, “Our survey found that on average, 64.2% of Americans have lied about their personal details, skills, experience, or references on their resumes at least once.” Clearly, dishonesty by job seekers is not just a minor occurrence.

When Does Puffing Become Lying?

Regarding that question, the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania states, “The challenge, experts say, is not to cross the line from harmless puffery to a more damaging form of elaboration. In some cases, the limits of what is accepted and what isn’t are clear-cut — few would condone amplifications that break the law, for example, or cause others serious harm. Equally prone to reproach are cases in which company executives or leaders within an organization are found to have included degrees they never earned, or positions they never held, on their resumes…”

What Do People Lie About?

If people lie on resumes, cover letters, and during interviews, what kinds of things do they lie about, and how big are the untruths? Continue reading →

How’s your job search going? Let’s see: got the required degree, training, and skills? Check. Have the required amount of work-related experience? Check. Had a great interview? Check. Does your social media or other online presence look favorable? Uh… what?

If you haven’t thought about how your online presence looks, you may have a problem. Could that be why you are not invited for interviews or receiving job offers after what seemed like great interviews?

Think about it. All potential employers have to do is look online, especially on social media sites, and they can learn a lot about you. And I do mean a lot! Probably more than you want them to know. They might think what they see, whether true or not, gives them insight into you personally. Could your online posts reveal the kind of person you really are, your true attitudes about people and things? Maybe they don’t like what they see.

Suppose you already interviewed and did quite well. Of course, they know you were on your best behavior in front of them. However, they also know the “real you” will come out once you are hired and on the job. Despite having seen an otherwise great applicant during the interview, they might now be worried and unsure about you because of what they see on social media.

It’s All Online

Let’s look at a few social media sites you frequently visit and see what anyone can easily learn about you in only a few minutes. Continue reading →