The world of work has enough challenges without having to remember what you put on your CV in order to secure your dream job.
Trust and Technology
Whilst some people may get away with having a CV which is economical with the truth, the pitfalls in this approach are many - ranging from the embarrassing to the criminal. Something which is often not considered is that if you do make up elements of your CV and are found out, trust with your employer can be irrevocably broken and confidence lost. This could have ramifications not only for this role, but for your whole future. The UK’s fraud prevention service, CIFAS, have even weighed in on the issue and shared some advice on how ‘lying on a job application can have serious consequences on your future’.
For some who have used this approach and got caught out, the downfall has been very public indeed. The proliferation of social media and speed of the internet means news travels fast and wide and can be easily dug up again. As technology develops and a personal social media presence is practically a given, it’s far easier to get caught out. So much of our history is now captured forever on the internet and this can often be the source of undoing when the truth in a CV is stretched. As more and more people can see what we say about ourselves the chance of being found out increases and it only takes one old ‘friend’ from university to point out on LinkedIn that the degree you say you have is not the one you studied and things can unravel.
The choice is yours
So if one of your New Year’s Resolutions was to change your job, build your career or push for promotion, then you may well be reviewing your CV right now. You may be looking at that next role and thinking you don’t quite have the right skills, qualifications or background. If you choose to exaggerate, embellish or even outright lie on your CV, you’d just be doing the same as around 60% of people surveyed recently who did the same. Distinguish yourself from the masses by resolving not to put yourself in a particularly sticky situation. Resolve instead to get the qualifications, experience and contacts which will support the growth of your career.
Contacts are key
If you partner with a professional recruiter who has the right contacts in your market place, you will be able to rely on them to know not only what roles are available now, but what may be coming up. They will understand whether a particular role or organisation will be best for you. They will know that your ‘brand’ is just as important as their ‘brand’, which is also as important as the employer’s ‘brand’, and that none of these should be compromised. Many employers now are recognising that it is important to recruit for attitude and train for skills. Without resorting to clichés, attitude is a very difficult thing to get across in either a job description or a CV. This is why so many employers turn to recruitment professionals to support their recruitment processes. If your recruitment partner has the right relationships with your target companies, they should be trusted enough to have their recommendation to interview you accepted even if you don’t have quite the right qualifications. If you don’t get the job, they will be able to provide you with feedback around what is needed in terms of your growth to be successful next time.
So, stay true to yourself, the qualifications and the experience that you have. Instead of making up a ‘you’ that doesn’t exist, work with a recruitment professional who can sell the best ‘you’ there is to the right employer.
