Lying in Job Interviews

Do you know what can happen if you lie in a Job Interview? What is the consequence if you do that? We will tell you about a situation we followed. And we will also share some reasons for don't make this mistake.

Some years ago a Human Resources Consultant told me she had a terrible problem in a Selection Process because she had the best candidate in terms of technical knowledge. Still, the girl "said" she could speak English but couldn't.

We strongly believe that if a company needs a professional who can communicate in another language the first test to be done should be the language test. We also comprehend that if the applicant has not been loyal since the beginning of the process, he is not the person the company wants on its team.

Coming back to the case: The girl participated in the complete process for the available position, and the consultant scheduled the "English Job Interview" with the company's director. Despite not speaking English the girl was brave enough to go to the interview. And there was a terrible surprise for everybody: when the boss asked "Tell me about yourself", the girl started crying, and so she assumed she couldn't speak English.

Well, this is only a consequence of lying: she didn't get the job but we think there are other important consequences for not being seen in the market as a pretender.

How would you feel if you were hired, and couldn't do your job?

If you decide to lie in a Job Interview you should consider that you will have some consequences more than losing the job, we are going to talk about two of them, but you can also comment about it and say your opinion on the issue.

The first thing you should think about is Ethical Considerations. Lying is unethical and dishonest, it will make you lose your reputation and undermine trust with everybody you deal with, in the company you are trying (or working with) and outside the company.

The second most common problem you can have if you lie is the Risk of Being Caught. The Human Resources department of multinationals often verifies the information provided during Job Interviews. If you are caught lying, it can lead to immediate contract termination or the withdrawal of a job offer.

Every Professional should focus on highlighting their genuine skills, experiences, and strengths, instead of lying. Being honest is the best professional policy even in the Artificial Intelligence era.

Finally, we invite everybody to emphasize their willingness to learn and grow. It's better to talk about yourself authentically and get a job that fits your abilities and aspirations and that is also aligned with your job description.

Seminal - Let's Grow Together