Your Resume: Why Honesty is the Only Answer
About ten years ago, a client came to my office for resume preparation. As we reviewed his information, I noticed that although he claimed he had obtained his Bachelor’s Degree from a leading West Coast college on his resume, he confessed that he had left school before earning the degree.
The Importance of Honesty in Resume Writing
During our consultation, I recommended that he should not claim he had obtained his degree. This recommendation was for several simple reasons. Firstly, it is not honest, and your resume represents you and who you are.
He told me that he wanted to indicate that he had obtained his degree so that his chances of getting the job he wanted would increase. I told him repeatedly that this was not a good idea, as you should never misrepresent yourself to potential employers.
Still, against my advice, he insisted on saying that he had obtained that degree. So, acceding to his wishes, I included the degree on his resume. After all, the client is always right, I suppose.
It must be noted that the client may or may not have obtained the job he was seeking. However, the second reason for not including a degree you did not earn is that if the employer discovers your dishonesty after hiring you, this could be grounds for dismissal, plain and simple. Your reputation also suffers as a result of this dishonesty, and once you lose your good reputation, there’s a chance that you will never get it back.
Real-life Consequences of Lying on a Resume
About 20 years ago, the Head Football Coach at Georgia Tech was hired as the new Head Coach at Notre Dame, one of the best programs in the nation. About a week after his hiring, it was discovered that he had listed a degree on his resume which he did not obtain. This revelation created quite an uproar at Notre Dame, a world-renowned academic institution, and the coach was subsequently fired.
The New York Times: Notre Dame Coach Resigns After 5 Days and a Few Lies
Five days after naming George O’Leary its new head football coach, the University of Notre Dame announced today that O’Leary had resigned suddenly after admitting to falsifying parts of his academic and athletic background.
How Misrepresentation Can Impact Your Career
Lesson learned: You may gain by misrepresenting yourself on your resume, and you may get the job. But, you could eventually lose that job due to your deliberate misinformation. Moreover, people talk to each other, and your professional reputation may suffer long-term.
In conclusion, never misrepresent yourself on your resume. You may gain short-term, but in the long run, chances are that you and your reputation will suffer.
Professional Resume Writing Services
I’m always here at (310) 779-6588 to assist you with your resume preparation needs. You can also submit your resume online for a free email consultation.