The End of Resume Lies

The End of Resume Lies The End of Resume Lies Every now and then, someone will ask me the age-old question Is it OK to lie on my resume?Ive always said no I never think lying is a good idea because (a) its wrong (b) you might get found out, and (c) you might not get found out, get the job, and then not be able to do itSo lying on your resume has always been a bad idea, and every now and then we would hear about some senior executive who got fired after his or her lies were discovered, but most people who lied probably got away with it. After all, most employers are terrible about checking the references you provide, let alone digging any deeper.But the advent of social media and Google and all the other stuff that has changed all our lives, means its now mora than a bad idea to lie on your resume its just plain stupid.Employers can google your name and find the truth about you more easily than they ever could, but thats no longer the end of it. Your co-workers can now find out all about you. Your companys customers can find out all about you. Managers in other departments can find out all about you and they dont even have to be looking for the informationConsider this case from Switzerland where a colleague stumbled across an employees Facebook activities and it ultimately cost her her job.Now think of all the information thats out there about you on sites like Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and LinkedIn if you lie on your resume, anyone can find out about it. No longer does being found out depend upon a diligent researcher in the HR department it can be the guy who sits across from you and happens to follow you on Twitter, or the co-worker whos friends with one of your friends on Facebook, or the customer who looks you up before a meeting.Bottom line, social media has put an end to lying when you represent yourself to others or at least doing it effectively for any length of time. And that means every word of your resume needs to be honest.