How dishonest is too dishonest?

We’re often told, “Fake it till you make it!” for anything from self-confidence to actual skills. Before a job interview, common advice is to oversell yourself, the idea being that you can easily learn on the job. But is this a good strategy, or even an ethical one? This week on the Confident Candidate, we’re talking about bending the truth on the job hunt: how far is too far? There are several opportunities to be less than forthright while job hunting, from experience on your resume to what you’re actually looking for in a future company. So buckle up and let us guide you through the possible perks and pitfalls of faking your way to the top of the talent pool.

Faking it vs. fraud: Navigating the thin line in today’s hyper-competitive job market

Today’s job market feels tougher than ever before and for some job hunters, it seems like little white lies are the only way to land a role. Finding a new job can be incredibly stressful, especially for those not currently employed. It can be hard to stay hopeful about your candidate profile in the face of rejection . Fear of a looming recession is making many companies hesitate to hire new talent—or worse, lay off current employees—making the job market incredibly competitive with hiring rates down nearly 24% year over year as mass layoffs flood the talent pool.

Finding a good job has never been an easy feat, but with increased competition and changes to the hiring process, it can feel impossible. From AI-powered application tracking systems misreading your resume to recruiter biases, the recruitment process can feel like a lottery, tempting some job seekers to lie during the process. In one recent survey , a whopping 70% of applicants admitted to lying on their application, most commonly embellishing their job titles and responsibilities. With the knowledge that a vast majority of the competition is lying on their resume, the question is no longer if you should lie, but what can you lie about?

Fibs to get your foot in the door

Of course, lying on a job application should never be encouraged, and depending on what you lie about, it could have serious consequences for your career. However, knowing that nearly everyone misrepresents themself in one way or another during the hiring process can make you feel as though you’re at a disadvantage for being truthful. While honesty is always the best policy in the long run, sometimes the “fake it till you make it” approach can help you access an opportunity you otherwise couldn’t. The key is knowing where to draw the line between bending the truth and bald-faced lies. So, what can you embellish to help boost your profile?

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