Ask the expert: When lying is dumb
Our panel of experts answers career questions from readers. Other readers can contribute their views. I was recently headhunted for a senior position at an investment bank, after being out of the market for some time. However, I lied on the resume submitted to the headhunter, claiming I had a degree. I thought that without a degree I would not be considered by such a prestigious bank. Of course, after I was offered the job, HR asked to see my certificates and I had to come clean to the headhunter. The job offer was immediately revoked. Was there any other course of action for me to have taken?
No there wasn't. You dug your own grave when you invented your fake degree.
What is hard to understand is why you did it. Lying like this is not only immoral, but also downright stupid. From the tone of your question, you were not surprised that HR asked to see original certificates, nor to have the job offer withdrawn when they discovered your dishonesty. So it beats us how you ever thought you could get away with it.
We can only assume that some part of you was seduced by the notion that 'everyone does it' and that 'employers expect people to lie' - and that as a result you thought you might be able to talk your way out of it. Indeed, that's behind your question to us. Could you have got away with it?
Especially with banks, there's no way out once discovered, although, sadly, there's truth in the view that lying is common and that employers expect people to embellish the truth. For this reason there is a burgeoning business in CV verification services which employers use to fact check every claim made on a candidate's CV.
Some research suggests that as many as three quarters of CVs contain embellishments of the truth, while a quarter, like yours, include blatant lies. But the fact that a dishonest practice is common doesn't make it right.
What is right is to present yourself and your skills, qualifications and experience in the best possible light in your CV. And yes, there is a grey area where positive presentation spills over into an illegitimate extension of the truth - but, you know what, this is not one of life's big moral challenges.
Most people know whether their CV is fundamentally an honest document or not - and, of course, in your case, it was not a question of crossing fine lines, but of an outright lie.
The only thing you can do now is learning from that mistake. You could even get off your assets and gain a real degree. There are plenty of excellent options available that can be done by correspondence or on a part time basis.
Make this a real life changing experience and promise yourself you will never lie on your CV again.
Three readers advise:
1. 'You only have yourself to blame for this. The fact that you're willing
to lie on something that's relatively trivial to the recruitment
decision-making process (you were most likely to be hired for your
previous work experience rather than academic record) forces your new
employer to ask: Is he going to do it again in work, and can I trust him
in making important decisions for the firm? The answers are obvious.
So just learn the lesson and accept you've messed it up.'
2. 'Training and education can give people the skills to succeed,
but if the candidate demonstrably lacks proper ethics, they will be blacklisted at the company, perhaps even after gaining the degree or certification that was lied about.
Lying to HR indicates a candidate lacks moral fiber and may lie on the
job as well or involve themselves in an unethical transaction at work.
So don't apply to any more jobs until either you go back and get
that degree, or take anything you've lied about or misrepresented off your resume. Also, enroll in a corporate ethics class so that the corporate view can be appreciated.'
3. 'Telling lies on your CV is never a good idea. HR departments check up on
you as a matter of course. It's one of their more useful functions. By
lying you have broken the trust that needs to exist between employer and
employee. I should think your headhunter is pretty fed up with you,
too.
The point of a degree is not that it is an entree to a job. It gives employers a reason to take a chance on you, nothing more. Not having a degree means you'll have to jump through more hoops to convince a potential employer that it's worth giving you a trial, as you are a correspondingly greater risk.
So you have a choice. Go and get a degree, or battle against the odds.
It's up to you. If you think you have the talent, then maybe you don't
have to do the time. Given today's highly competitive markets I doubt
you can busk it, however.'
Next week's question: I'm currently working as a sell-side analyst but am finding it
hard in terms of hours/lifestyle pressures and the arse-licking necessary to succeed. I am thinking of moving to the buy-side where I believe I can still use the same skills but in a better work/life scenario and perhaps offering a fresh mental challenge. The problem I'm having is conveying this well at
interview - perhaps giving the impression of low commitment and motivation. What should I do?
What would you advise? Send your answer to: expertadmin@efinancialcareers.com.
Look out for the Experts' answer to this dilemma and readers' comments on Ask the Expert next week!
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