Write an outstanding resume without resorting to common lies

When J. Terrence Lanni resigned from MGM Mirage in the fall of 2008, he became the 10th in that year’s series of top CEOs shot down by “little white lies” on their resumes. The former industry titan never completed his MBA, but included it on his resume anyway. In recent years, the leaders of Radio Shack and MCG Capital quit their jobs after failing fact checks. Despite the risk of ruining otherwise successful careers, some aspiring leaders still stretch the truth when applying for jobs.

According to many personnel managers, using a lie to get a job often requires maintaining that lie for years. When confronted, some professionals report blurry memories of their early careers. Others admit to lying freely, using the challenges of the job market to justify their actions. Although some headhunters once recommended creative writing of a resume as a method of opening the door, today’s business world traditionally prizes integrity over invention.

Common resume lies can slow you down

It can be tempting to “stuff your resume,” exaggerating some of your real-life experiences to make yourself more attractive to hiring managers. According to recent surveys of HR professionals, some of the most common resume lies include:

o Inflate job titles or responsibilities at previous employers

o Replacing a gap in your resume with a made-up job at a company that claims it has already been closed

o Claim to have obtained a degree that you did not complete

o Claiming to have obtained a different degree to make it more attractive to a potential employer

o Adopt the alma mater of a hiring manager to help build rapport

o Report a different reason for leaving a previous position

Strong resumes exhibit honesty, clarity, and focus

Recent regulations like the Sarbanes-Oxley Act have forced employers to take a closer look at job applicants. Many recruiters and hiring managers at large companies rely on outside investigators to verify resumes, often before applicants reach the interview phase. Small businesses can use the Internet to track inaccuracies by requesting education records or researching employment records. Even an online search for different versions of your resume can raise questions about edits and changes over time.

Surveys conducted over the past five years reflect concern and confusion about fabricated resumes. Respondents to a recent survey suggest that roughly one in twenty resumes contains the kind of lies that could cause embarrassment or even financial penalties for employers. In another survey, the human resources specialist reported that about half of all resumes include at least one lie. Today’s most successful resumes should emphasize hard facts, provide clear deadlines, and offer accessible references. The crisp language underscores your respect for executive time.

Make your resume stand out

Rather than inflate your experiences, professional advisors now recommend improving the quality of your presentation. With inexpensive software or word processing templates, you can create a highly polished resume that will fit on a single page. Sacrificing flowery language for white space should attract the attention of most hiring managers. A professional design, free from typographical errors, demonstrates one of the most sought after skills in today’s job market: powerful communication. Shortening your resume also has a powerful side benefit. Human resource databases often de-format electronic resumes, filtering submissions by keyword. Automated hiring tools that search for specific job titles or action words favor sparse resumes.

In an economy where job seekers fight each other for ten minutes of face-to-face time at hiring events, it can seem counterintuitive to re-mark your resume. However, the market for talent buyers and the scrutiny of independent investors have rewritten the rules for being hired in America. Professional presentation of action-oriented facts will take you further today than any bloated resume in the past.