Is honesty the best policy in today's job market?
Friday, 29, Jan 2010 12:00
In a dog-eat-dog job market, candidates can be tempted to stretch the truth in order to make their CVs more competitive.
According to The Risk Advisory Group, 65% of jobseekers in the UK include false information in their job applications. Some facts are exaggerated. Others are omitted. But at what point does a white lie become employment fraud?
To err is human, but can we forgive Devine?
Few can forget Kerrie Devine, the HR manager from Devon who was found guilty of misrepresenting her qualifications to Devon Primary Care Trust (PCT).
When Devine was asked to reapply for her post, she falsely claimed to be enrolled in a CIPD course and to hold a degree in HRM from Oxford Brookes University, among a range of other bogus credentials.
Exeter Crown Court gave her a six-month suspended prison sentence with 150 hours of community service and a £9,600 fine.
Commenting on the case, Debbie Lloyd, an operational fraud manager for the NHS, told People Management Magazine that nobody was above the law.
"This positive outcome to our investigation is a reminder that fraud against the NHS can be committed by people in well-paid, senior positions."
Employers have better access to personal information
While few companies in Britain have an anti-fraud division, all employers have the internet at their disposal. This means they have the power to do their own detective work via search engines and social networking sites.
A recent Career Builder study found that 43% of companies research candidates online before compiling their interview shortlist. What you say (or others say about you) on these sites could influence their decision about taking you on. It could also expose your dishonesty. Around 38% of employers uncovered the truth about applicants' credentials online, the survey found.
Discriminatory remarks, comments about drinking heavily, or inappropriate photographs on your Facebook page could also tarnish your credibility. If you're a serious jobseeker, it's worth cleaning up your online profiles. If you can't gain your potential employer's trust, how can you expect to land the job?
Facts are facts
While it is against the law to fabricate your qualifications, it's also inadvisable to inflate your skills and experience when applying for a job. You'll only end up feeling out of your depth and letting your colleagues down.
In some cases - if you're a health worker, a nanny, or in another role where you're responsible for others' wellbeing - your dishonesty may even put people's lives at risk.
Nonetheless, a CV is still a sales tool. In today's ruthless job market, it's crucial that you portray your abilities, knowledge and career history effectively. Essentially, it comes down to careful wording.
Say you took a gap year and now you've returned home to look for a job. Instead of telling your interviewer: "I bummed around Europe for a year," you could opt for: "I took a year off to fulfil a lifelong dream of travelling through Europe".
The facts are the same, but the impressions that these two sentences make on a hiring manager are vastly different.
You know when you've gone too far
There is a point where clever use of language becomes a lie and it's very difficult to isolate that instance. Perhaps the best way to go about it is to err on the side of caution, be open and honest.
If you feel that you're misrepresenting your skills, achievements and expertise in any way, stop and think about the consequences.
Will you be out of your depth if you do get the job? Will you let your boss and co-workers down? Or even worse: could you end up with a criminal record? Your conscience will guide you as to what you should do next.