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BS'ing on CVs?
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
in Work & Study
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6755485.stm
Is lying on your CV really all that bad? In jobs where your qualifications are essential (Medicine, science etc) then of course it is, but in general work (factory, retail, callcentre etc) I really can't see the problem. The world of work is dog-eat-dog at best so anything you can do to get an advantage has to be worth it. It should be kept in mind that doing so is illegal but with seemingly so few companies bothering to do checks (I could name 3 well-known companies who don't check up), the temptation is very strong. Yes I've lied about my qualifications to get work - nothing like degrees or anything but I've gone on to do the job well.
Is lying on your CV really all that bad? In jobs where your qualifications are essential (Medicine, science etc) then of course it is, but in general work (factory, retail, callcentre etc) I really can't see the problem. The world of work is dog-eat-dog at best so anything you can do to get an advantage has to be worth it. It should be kept in mind that doing so is illegal but with seemingly so few companies bothering to do checks (I could name 3 well-known companies who don't check up), the temptation is very strong. Yes I've lied about my qualifications to get work - nothing like degrees or anything but I've gone on to do the job well.
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Comments
If people lie on their CVs then they can't do that properly. A CV is a marketing tool but if everyone lied on them they would become worthless and companies wouldn't respect them.
I'd agree with that if it was relating to actual professions but for the types of job I mention (basic minimum wage jobs like barwork, factory, shop assistants etc) do you really think it's possible to "work hard" to get them?
Well I doubt you'd make up qualifications to get barwork. Surely only making up experience would be useful for a job like that?
A CV is an advert- its OK to bend the truth a bit, but telling porkies is not on, and usually ends up with the liar getting found out.
That was just an example but there are plenty of other lower-end jobs that having extra qualifications (or sounding like you do) would be helpful.
"Often checked out"? I beg to differ!
Just because someone has a degree (for example) it doesn't make them "more qualified" to do the job, in fact I hate this system of exams and shit... If you dont have them you're seen as nowhere near as worthy of a job as someone who has done some doss degree (im not bitter, im actually doing a degree I just think we have a shit system =P).
They may have worked hard to get their degree, but in the situations hes talking about (non qualification specific) that doesn't mean much.
I wouldnt lie on your CV cos thats decpetion, but most people are creative with words and use this to their advantage.
:thumb:
It's not a perfect system because there are plenty of people who did more to get their 2:1 or 2:2 than those with firsts, and are actually more capable. But that's for the employer to decide, if they have two identical candidates for example why should they pick the one who didn't do so well in their exams? They wouldn't at the end of the day (if the candidates were identical), so lying on your CV gives you an unfair advantage over someone who doesn't feel they need to lie to get a job.
Or maybe they'd be more impressed that you had the initiative to try and get ahead? Or that you wanted the job so much you were willing to lie?
'I eat out regularly and enjoy watersports' when in fact you go to the chip shop and pay women to piss on you.
Post of the week for sure.
I've bull shitted on CV's before, not about qualifications but about experience and intrests, just so I could get my foot in the door.
I didnt have to provide GSCE/AS/A level grade proof to get my new job but I did have to provide my NVQ 2/3/4 certificates and accounts body membership certificate.
Who I've worked for, GCSE and NVQ results, that sort of thing. Done it a few times and never been caught out.
people just assumed it indicated some high degree of expertise and academic standing, when in fact it stood for "Cycling Proficiency"
Depends on the job, dunnit.
Till monkey jobs aren't checked out, but for every single legal job I've had I've had to produce my GCSE, A'Level and degree certificates.