By: Jason Kay
Submitted: 2011-07-07 17:15:08 | Word Count: 516
With the job market as competitive as ever, it is very tempting to lie on your resume. However, this should never be considered an option. With so many qualified applicants, businesses are more likely do a more comprehensive background check. Fortunately, there are ways to boost your resume without lying. Remember, the goal of your resume is to get you an interview, not get you a job. With this in mind, there are simple solutions to solve even the biggest resume problems without lying.
Ways to Boost Your Resume Without Lying
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1.Gaps in Employment
Large gaps in your employment history is one of the biggest potential turnoffs for a potential employer. Instead of lying and filling in gaps with experiences that you didn't have, justify the gaps that do exist. For example, one of the most common reasons for gaps in employment for women is that they took a few years off to take care of young children. Instead of saying that you took some time off for you kids, say that you took a break from the private sector to become more involved in the community. With kids, there is a large chance that you have done some volunteer work, so don't be afraid to use it to your advantage. Remember, everything that you do serves a purpose.
2.Education
Lying about your education has become a surprisingly common tactic. Unfortunately, schools have made it very easy for your employer to check you out. For example, lets say that you have completed 3 or 3+ years of college, but never graduated. Don't lie, instead tell employers why you didn't finish. For example, you took a full-time job that didn't allow you to finish your education. Additionally, always state you are currently pursuing to finish your degree online or through additional schooling.
3.Experience
While it may seem like a risk that you willing to take, if you lie about your previous experience it can get you in trouble. If you are asked to do XYZ, because you said that you could on your application, it will become obvious that you lied and you will likely get fired. The key is to focus on the highlights of your experience. If you were the lead server at a restaurant, you could say that you trained and managed a sales staff to ensure daily productivity. The importance is what you did, not where you did it.
4.Use Keywords
Make sure that you look through the job posting and company description and try to use the same keywords in your resume that you found in the ad. This will achieve two goals at once. First, it will get your resume past the scanners that many businesses are using to pre-qualify resumes. Second, your resume will look good to your potential employer because you have the exact skill set that they are looking for.
It is always tempting to lie on your resume, however it should be avoided at all costs. Businesses have more potential employees to choose from, which means more thorough background searches. Employ these 4 ways to boost your resume without lying.
