Guest Author - Gwendolyn Thompson
Potential employers generally hold a strict no tolerance policy against dishonesty so make sure that your resume show cases your ethics and sincerity by including authentic and truthful information about yourself. You can expect a complete background check in all areas.
Writing a resume can allow you to push to the limits your experience and skills but highlighting your benefits and value should be within reality. You need to refrain from crossing the line when selling yourself to a potential employer and be prepared to backup all your statements.
A resume is a brief overview and should contain factual details. For example you are enrolled in a degree program but have not completed the program or withdrew from it. You can still list it on your resume using the expected date of completion or the completed credit hours.
Potential employers are not looking for unrealistic qualifications but they are looking for honesty and that begins on your resume. Exaggerating your qualifications or your responsibilities will likely be revealed in your background check with previous employers and educational institutions.
Your resume reflects who you are and says a lot about you as a person to the potential employer. It is a tool used to get an interview so keep your resume short and to the point. It is important to stick to the truth instead of stretching it when you are looking for a job.
Resume dishonesty can show up during an interview as well. If you are claiming on your resume that you have previous experience using a specific set of skills you had better be prepared to answer questions related to those skills at a job interview.
If you obtain employment through dishonesty it is likely to be detected in your performance at the new job and could reveal information that would get you terminated. Honesty is always the best policy when it comes to marketing yourself for employment.
