According to a recent survey, hiring managers are finding more lies on applicants’ CVs than in the past. Five years ago, 70% of recruiters said that they had found out that a candidate was telling porky pies. Now, that figure is up to 88%.
Whether that means more people are lying or that hiring managers have become more adept at rooting out the truth is irrelevant. It comes down to the same thing: Don’t put anything on your CV (or other application materials) that you can’t back up.
Lying, or stretching the truth, on your CV is a perennial subject, but the answer is always the same. You shouln’t lie on your CV. What you should be doing, though, is thinking about the best way to represent yourself and your accomplishments. Many people underestimate themselves when it comes to writing their CV.
Often, this is because they don’t like to be seen as braggarts, and, as noble as it is, that can negatively impact their job search. This is a time when, more than any other, you need to show off.
When you sit down to write a CV, cover letter or anything else for a job application, start by looking back at your career, education and achievements to date. Be honest with yourself and try to avoid downplaying what you have done. If you’re still not sure how to write your CV, check out this advice.
If you find that difficult, ask someone else for their help. An outside pair of eyes will see things in a different (and often more honest light). If they find something from your CV impressive (even if you think of it as commonplace), the chances are an employer will, too.
The other important thing to bear in mind is to have evidence for what you are telling an employer. The survey results tell us that recruiters are more vigilant than ever when it comes to what is on your CV. If you really want to impress, you need to have evidence for your claims. Things you can use for this include specific praise from an employer, awards you may have won and cold, hard figures (for example, increasing sales or website conversions).
For each claim you make, try to find something to back it up. At the very least, you should have this on hand in an interview, but it is even better if you can include it in your CV.
Business & Finance Articles on Business 2 Community(23)
