Not unlike a confessional, resume writers oftentimes hear stories that would make most people’s hair stand on end.
How they messed up on the job big-time.
Or a bad decision that resulted in a termination.
Or had an awful boss who did unspeakable things to them.
Or didn’t know how to do the job to which they were reassigned.
There are a million different stories out there on the street, and resume writers hear a lot of them, day in and day out.
Over time, we grow thicker skin after the shock of what goes on in the workplace wears off, but we always hear something new. Truth, as the saying goes, is stranger than fiction.
But one thing that comes out of these client consultations is that most people are sincerely trying to do the best job they can at work… many of them love what they do. I completely believe this. Oftentimes, the cause of lot of their workplace angst and issues lies with either bad co-workers or bad communicators… or bad bosses.
However, despite blame always seemingly being external, there are also a lot of cases where the client is the problem themselves, and don’t see it. Or, they are just plain out-and-out lying.
Answers become obscure and indistinct, or conversations are redirected to avoid answering anything. Every career services provider worth their salt asks the right questions that dig deep into a client’s background, and when answers get short, gruff, and end in a nervous laugh… well, we know what’s really going on here.
Lying to a professional resume writer isn’t doing anything to further your career. You may think you pulled a fast one on us, but remember… you are paying us to write, not be the resume police. We can ask verification questions to make sure we understood you correctly, but it’s not up to us to substantiate or pass judgment on your claims.
An employer?
Totally different story.
That’s their job during the recruitment/application process… they are paid to find out the big, stinky lies that some people cram into their resume.
By hiring a resume writer to polish up your turd (ahem) of a lie doesn’t give you a “pass” when it comes to employer scrutiny. You aren’t pulling the fast one with us… Resume writers know when you are lying and we aren’t even the ones doing the investigating.
The best policy? Honesty. You will never have to look over your shoulder, nor will you need to justify yourself as you backtrack an outrageous claim. Good guys do finish first… especially when it comes down to honesty and integrity in representing your background in your resume.
Lying only hurts one person: YOU.