Stick To Facts On Your Resume
Everyone wants their resumes to catch the eye of prospective employers. We want our cover letters to help land us interviews. However, including lies or even stretching the truth to make these job search documents more attractive is a major no-no and potentially career limiting.
In a competitive job market, you certainly want to find whatever edge you can to get an in, but presenting false information is likely to get you derailed.
Avoid the temptation to spice up the details and embellish your accomplishments. You can be assured that management from the hiring company are reviewing your online profiles and Googling your name, so why take chances?
By all means, find ways to highlight achievements but do so with examples of results that can be proven. If you are having trouble thinking of specifics, ask friends, colleagues and family for things you may have overlooked.
Your priority should be on applying to jobs you are well qualified for. If your qualifications come up just short of job market expectations in one area, don’t add skills onto the resume that you don’t have. Instead, seek out courses or volunteer work that will round out your capabilities.
Staff at The Work Place in Grande Prairie can guide eligible unemployed or underemployed clients (visit www.gpworkplace.ca for details) on how to prepare professional resumes that best highlight your skills and accomplishments.
They can also assist you with your other job search tools and ensure you’re using all the resources available to you, including accessing potential training opportunities (see contact details below). Your strategies may include updating or acquiring new skills.
The resources in the links below further discuss the pitfalls of falsifying information on your resume. You will also find steps to take to pursue jobs without potentially permanently damaging your reputation:
https://www.jvstoronto.org/blog/lying-on-your-resume/
Ultimately, not being truthful on your resume, cover letter or even during an interview could prove to be costly, even if it gets you a job. Honesty is the best policy and employers will appreciate your being factual, even if you have explain situations like career gaps.
As we’ve outlined in an earlier blog (https://www.gpworkplace.ca/blog/manage-your-online-reputation/), it’s also important to manage your online reputation – ensure you don’t have questionable photos, comments or content on your social media pages.
If you want more help with your job search at no cost, contact us at 780-539-5477. You can send enquiries to info@gpworkplace.ca. Our office is located at #105, 9840-97th Ave., Grande Prairie.
We also help employers find qualified candidates.
