Lying on your resume: what are the risks?

From small lies by omission to misrepresentation of diplomas, we are often tempted to embellish reality to better sell ourselves. But manipulation remains risky...

We no longer say "lie" but "embellishment". Cheating on your resume has become commonplace. A classic lie of omission or a misrepresentation of diplomas, including added experience, few candidates are 100% honest about their background. Rumor has it that even Rachida Dati, former Keeper of the Seals, falsified her diplomas. She reportedly mentioned on her resume an MBA from the prestigious HEC business school, which she never obtained.

Obviously, it's tempting: the objective of a resume is to catch the eye of recruiters. The candidate wants to present themselves in the best possible light. "Everyone does it," assures Hoda_11 on the Doctissimo Forum. We are all obliged to "embellish" the truth, otherwise we remain behind, because that's what companies demand." "If you leave a resume with months of inactivity, they will reproach you for not working - so you are maybe lazy. Lying doesn't mean writing anything. Just filling in the gaps, to show that you are active and motivated to work," continues Seb862.

The phenomenon has indeed become commonplace in France because, unlike Anglo-Saxon countries, French companies still rarely verify the backgrounds of applicants. Except in recruitment firms or some large companies, only resumes that present inconsistencies are examined. Most HR managers rely on the job interview to analyze the candidates' discourse and pinpoint any potential flaws.

1- Professional but not legal risks
The cheater doesn't risk much legally. As long as you don't try to pass yourself off as a doctor, lawyer, or accountant, you won't be prosecuted. Since the law of December 31, 1992, the courts consider that the employer has the right and duty to verify the information on your resume. If they don't, it is them who are at fault. An employee who transformed a four-month internship at Renault into a one-year job even won their lawsuit! In the least favorable scenario, if you don't have the required skills, you won't be kept after your probationary period.

The danger lies elsewhere: you risk ruining your reputation within your entire profession. This environment is a closed world, where information circulates very quickly. And companies and recruitment firms communicate this kind of embarrassing information among themselves. The bigger your lie, the greater the risk of damaging your reputation. And you could be "blacklisted" by the main companies in the sector.

2- The most frequent lies

- Lying about your professional skills
There's lying and lying. Adding a month or two to a fixed-term contract or transforming a DEUG into a bachelor's degree will not have the same consequences as transforming an internship into a fixed-term contract. For some, like Eric, the lie was not detected. "I lied by extending my last experience by 4 years in order to say that I was still in the position, and it went through," he explains on the Doctissimo forum.

But recruiters are increasingly suspicious. Companies, driven by the scale of the phenomenon and increasingly significant lies, are starting to scrutinize resumes upstream. "I work in an insurance firm where, once out of 20, we check resumes. I must say we've had some surprises!" assures Baronnedelatroncheenbiais on Aufeminin.com. Others wait for the interview to verify the truth of your statements. "15 days ago I had an interview where they did a reference check, who should I contact for this job, that one, and that one?" She wanted to contact all the managers of all the jobs I had done!" confides Miss Lily on the same forum. Some recruiters, accustomed to this kind of cheating, are very attentive to the consistency of dates. And they verify that the tasks you have described have actually been carried out. If they feel that you are not sure of yourself, no mercy! They will push you into a corner.


- Hiding a period of inactivity
This is one of the most frequent "arrangements." Most candidates lie by omission, mentioning only the years of work. For example, a mission manager position between November 2006 and January 2009 becomes on the resume "2006-2010: mission manager at such and such company." But, as with professional experience, recruiters seasoned in this kind of lie are on the lookout for the slightest inconsistency.


- Mentioning false diplomas
The race for diplomas pushes some candidates to lie about their studies. Inventing a course at a grande école, an MBA abroad, or transforming a DEUG into a master's degree to get an interview may seem tempting. But you risk being quickly unmasked. The grandes écoles all have an alumni directory, which your recruiter can consult. Moreover, if, by chance, your boss is from that school (these coincidences happen frequently), they will necessarily ask you specific questions that you will not be able to answer. Furthermore, in some companies, you are asked for a copy of your diplomas to establish your salary.


- Language level
You babble a bit of English or Spanish, haven't said a word of German for more than ten years, but according to your resume you are "fluent"? Be careful because recruiters are used to this kind of lie and increasingly often test candidates. Nothing is easier for a recruiter to verify your statements by asking you a question in the language of Shakespeare or Goethe.


- Hiding your age
For fear of being discriminated against, some candidates add or subtract a few years. But be careful because recruiters will quickly be able to do the math thanks to the dates of your diplomas or your professional experience. Subtracting five years is not much - but it would mean that you had your baccalaureate at 12-13 years old. Not very credible.


Caroline Politi.


Lexpress.fr