Reader Eleise from Aberdeen is fed up with being repeatedly ghosted by employers during her job search. After countless applications and hardly any interviews, she is considering embellishing her CV to get past the initial screening stage. However, careers expert James Innes warns that this approach is a terrible idea that can backfire severely.
The Temptation to Embellish
Eleise describes her frustration: “I’ve been applying for jobs for a while now and getting nowhere fast. Ghosted most of the time, hardly any interviews – and the whole thing is really starting to do my head in.” She admits feeling tempted to make her responsibilities sound grander than they actually were, though she stops short of inventing an entire fake career. She questions whether this is a viable strategy when she feels she has no other choice.
Innes responds unequivocally: “Ermmm… Short answer, Eleise? Yes! It’s a terrible idea!” He acknowledges that desperation can make such ideas seem sensible, but stresses that misrepresenting one’s experience is dangerous.
The Risks of Dishonesty
Innes explains that the line between presenting yourself well and outright lying is critical. “The first is vital. The second can come back and bite you rather hard somewhere rather tender,” he warns. The consequences are not necessarily dramatic legal action but rather everyday situations: during an interview, a simple follow-up question can expose the exaggeration, forcing the candidate to squirm. If hired, colleagues quickly realise the CV described a version of the candidate that exists only on paper.
Instead, Innes advises job seekers to make their CVs as strong as possible without crossing into dishonesty. “Should you make your CV as strong as it can be? Yes, absolutely; of course you should. Should you avoid underselling yourself? Yes. Should you describe your work in the best possible light? Yes.” However, he cautions against including anything that cannot be defended face-to-face.
Practical Advice for Job Seekers
Innes offers a simple test: “Don’t ask yourself, ‘Can I get away with this?’ Ask yourself, ‘Could I say this out loud in an interview and not squirm?’ If the answer is no – then leave it out!” He emphasises that honesty is never the problem; a CV may be too flat, timid, or vague, but it can never be too truthful. There is ample room between being painfully modest and being misleading, and that is where job seekers should focus their efforts.
According to Innes, bending the truth to get through the door only leads to difficulties once inside the organisation. He encourages readers to persist with honest applications, assuring them that a suitable job will eventually come.
James Innes is a best-selling careers author and founder of the world's leading group of professional CV and resume writers. His new book, The Job You’ve Always Wanted, is available from Pearson at £16.99.
