As much as I'm ashamed to admit it, in the past I have lied a little to get a certain position that I really wanted. But I don't do it anymore, since the last time I lied about something, it caught up to me and I wound up losing my job.

Have any of you ever lied a little or stretched the truth because you were interviewing for a job that you really, really wanted? If so, what was the lie, and what prompted you to be dishonest about it? I'm hoping that I'm not the only one who has ever been guilty of doing this. Feel free to post.

yes

to become a lifeguard

i said that i could swim



little white one

shausler said:

Little?

shausler said:

So you could watch all the pretty girls go by in their swimsuits, huh?

The only thing I've fudged in job-hunting is past salary history.

But don't worry, I know tons of people who fluff themselves up to get jobs. The key is knowing when you've crossed from "couching" your story to creating total fiction.
[This message was edited Tue May 6 19:19:01 PDT 2003 by Lammastide]

True, I'm sure I'm not the only one who has told a little lie in order to get a certain position.

I have lied my ass off during interviews...

whatever it takes...

but I don't anymore!!!


I'm only saying it cause it is true!!!

Aren't you supposed to?

psychodelicide said:

Hell Yeah...I plan on being here to learn all you have to offer...I see myself oneday in your shoes...this is just one of my goals!!...blah blah blah...you have to tell them what they expect to hear and sell yourself at the same time...no fool goes in and tells them the "whole" truth...like...I am just here to learn your business and then leave with that knowledge to start my own"

Yes but I'm not ashamed

shausler said:

psychodelicide said:

Never. IMHO that game is simply too dangerous to play.

I'm usually quite honest and direct in interviews... no need for bullshit. It must work too, because in the MANY interviews I've done over the years... I've never done an interview and not gotten a job offer out of it. So, a 100% success rate in my interview technique, not bad!

Of course I might have been economical with the truth a few times, to make me sound better. e.g.

Honest version:
Interviewer: So why did you leave your last job?
Me: My boss was a fucking unpleasant little bully, and I couldn't look at his big stupid arrogant fat head a day longer.

Less honest version:
Interviewer: So why did you leave your last job?
Me: Well having successfully found a cure for cancer, designed a new kind of vehicle for interstellar travel, and found a way to eliminate all war everywhere... I felt I had accomplished all that I could at the job, and wanted to seek new opportunities elsewhere.

Which sounds better to you Badmouthing people (ex workmates) in an interview is always a bad idea, and advertising the fact that you had a problem with your previous boss can set off alarm bells with a prospective employer. So sometimes you have to lie a bit, in order to sell yourself properly and do yourself justice. Even if you quit your job coz your boss was a prick, it is unwise to mention that in the interview... better off making out like you just want to seek opportunities doing cool exciting stuff, coincidentally exactly what your prospective employer does!

No, I never have... but I can say this for those of you looking for a job that are given a Personality Assessment Test to take prior to being hired. TELL THEM WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR! If you answer honestly, chances are you'll fail. I have to give these and grade these and that's how I've seen it work.

They are multiple choice and they don't allow you to write anything to explain.

Example Question: Have you ever taken ANYTHING from work that you haven't paid for?

Don't answer "yes" if you've taken pens, a pad of paper or even a paper clip. Meaning, don't be quite that honest about it.

I had sort of the opposite occur. I was getting interviewed with an advertising firm for a web design position. They spent the entire time criticizing my resume and flat out accused me of "padding" it. My resume had a complete listing of my experience, with links to numerous sites I've designed, highlighting where my various skills were applied.

They put a 20-30 word ad in the paper for a Web Developer and mentioned if that person had graphic design skills it would be a plus. Then when I got there with a portfolio of my web work, they asked me why I didn't instead bring a portfolio of graphic design work. They obviously didn't take the time to look over the links I sent them and/or didn't know enough about web design to even know what to look for.

What really boiled my blood was they they were criticizing ME for how I wrote my resume, when they couldn't even write a fucking 30 word ad accurately describing what in the hell they were looking for. Then, after supposedly reading my resume, which clearly states my skills and interests, they call me in for the fucking interview anyway, just to be ignorant to me.
[This message was edited Thu May 8 7:39:04 PDT 2003 by Tom]

Tom said:

Yeah I had an interview like that once... well basically the guy interviewing me was using his position to be really belittling of me, my CV and my experience... just abusing his power basically, and being a rude twat.

I later complained to the company's HR manager and told them that this guy was giving such a bad impression of the company that I'd never want to work there. They ended up disciplining the guy pretty severely (and he didn't get to do any more interviews) and they called me up and offered me a job and were all apologies for his behaviour.

Complaining works, sometimes.

ian said:

I think there's a difference between lying and putting a positive slant on things. Sure, maybe your last boss was unpleasant, but you can give other, true reasons in response the the question, "Why do you want to leave Acme Widgets, Inc.?" Furthermore, a question like that is basically asking for a subjective answer that's impossible to verify.

Now, stuff like claiming to hold a degree you don't have, or misrepresenting dates of employment... that kind of thing is an outright lie, and if you're caught, you're toast.

the question should be "have any of you fools ever told the truth to get a job"!