Lieing on your CV...

redrabbit29 · 1 May 2014 at 23:28

Interesting conversation today with my friend about lieing on CV. It all sounds really sinister and it can't be defended but the lies are mostly elaborating things such as qualifications or job placements.

E.g.

I have a HND in IT, he suggested changing this to BSc in IT (I was 1 year off this qualification)

Also said to change "Web Developer" to "Web Developer & DB Administrator" <----- I can live with this one to be honest. We all do things outside our job description. I ***did not **** perform the administrating role... no one did, but I certainly kept it running. So I can justify this.

But I'm not a liar.

This isn't a thread about "should I lie". It's funny how quite a lot of peopel I know think it's OK to "fudge" a bit on your CV. I imagine this is quite common. I can even handle "fudging" but no lying. But where is the line?

Mirmo · 1 May 2014 at 23:34

The fudging you described is lying though isn't it! It's not true. Not saying I'm against spicing up of the CV a little but I would disagree with somebody lying about a degree they don't have. Doesn't seem fair to a potential employer specifically looking for it and hiring that person over somebody who actually achieved it.

I agree with you though, it must be quite common.

tibbsey · 1 May 2014 at 23:35

Fudging is one thing, a HND->BSc is way more than a fudge! xD

Glaucus · 1 May 2014 at 23:37

What rubbish advice. Lying on CV means they can easily sack you. Asking for proof of your degree is hardly hard.'

Fudging is fine. Like the db bit.

There's lots of things we do occasionally and can make out you do it more often.

Hitman_Leon · 1 May 2014 at 23:37

Enhance what you have but don't add what you don't have or lie.

Jono8 · 1 May 2014 at 23:38

LOL at putting BSC when you only have a HND.

Not a good idea.

The administrator thing is ok i suppose.

Vanquish-Storm · 1 May 2014 at 23:42

Might as well but MSc.... you were only 2 years off that.

kitkat9933 · 1 May 2014 at 23:45

Vanquish-Storm said:
Might as well but MSc.... you were only 2 years off that.

Why not PhD?

Haggisman · 1 May 2014 at 23:45

Why stop at BSc, why not go for an MSc or even a PhD? (you're only 2/5 years off this qualification). If you're going to put an outright lie which is easily found, you may as well do it properly

Edit: gah, beaten... twice!

dowie · 1 May 2014 at 23:55

redrabbit29 said:
I have a HND in IT, he suggested changing this to BSc in IT (I was 1 year off this qualification)

very silly idea - tis fairly trivial to check qualifications

Also said to change "Web Developer" to "Web Developer & DB Administrator" <----- I can live with this one to be honest. We all do things outside our job description. I ***did not **** perform the administrating role... no one did, but I certainly kept it running. So I can justify this.

Why change a title? Why not just mention it in the description of what you do. Your job title will be confirmed in any reference... even the most basic reference generally contains at least job title and dates of employment.

redrabbit29 · 2 May 2014 at 00:23

Funny though...

Personally, I think fudging your EXACT job role is acceptable. By that I mean... if you were a web developer who uploaded and sorted the server out... I would say that you could say you were being a server admin or DB admin.

But it's funny that some say HND -> BSc isn't OK. I agree actually. But no one ever checks. Has anyone ever known an employer to check. Even to say "Do you have proor of GCSE Maths?".

It makes it hard to stop those fakers, as they're so easily getting away with it

Andy90 · 2 May 2014 at 00:29

This used to be the Criminal Offence of Obtaining a Pecuniary Advantage, contrary to Section 16, Theft Act 1968.

That legislation was replaced in the Fraud Act 2006.

Section 2 of that Act makes it an offence to dishonestly make a false representation and by making that representation intends to make a gain for himself or another.

The maximum penalty for Fraud on indictment is 10 years imprisonment.

There are further offences of

1) Conspiracy to commit fraud
2) Attempting to commit fraud
3) Makes an article for use in fraud (such as a document or cv).

Not a good idea to lie on an application or cv.

dowie · 2 May 2014 at 00:40

redrabbit29 said:
But it's funny that some say HND -> BSc isn't OK. I agree actually. But no one ever checks. Has anyone ever known an employer to check. Even to say "Do you have proor of GCSE Maths?".

It makes it hard to stop those fakers, as they're so easily getting away with it

no one ever checks? Plenty of employers check qualifications, some will outsource this - there are plenty of companies out there employing people specifically to just conduct background checks on people... they're not the most switched on bunch but they will pick up blatantly obvious lies... employment gaps spent 'traveling' they perhaps can't rumble you on - making up a qualification however will easily get you found out and at risk of being sacked.

gambitt · 2 May 2014 at 00:44

dowie said:
no one ever checks? Plenty of employers check qualifications, some will outsource this - there are plenty of companies out there employing people specifically to just conduct background checks on people... they're not the most switched on bunch but they will pick up blatantly obvious lies... employment gaps spent 'traveling' they perhaps can't rumble you on - making up a qualification however will easily get you found out and at risk of being sacked.

Not that I condone lying about having a BSc, but a background check will not reveal whether or not you have a degree. Grad schemes will ask for proof but not when going for an arbitrary web developer role.

redrabbit29 · 2 May 2014 at 00:52

dowie said:
no one ever checks? Plenty of employers check qualifications, some will outsource this - there are plenty of companies out there employing people specifically to just conduct background checks on people... they're not the most switched on bunch but they will pick up blatantly obvious lies... employment gaps spent 'traveling' they perhaps can't rumble you on - making up a qualification however will easily get you found out and at risk of being sacked.

I'm a Police Officer. Well aware of the Fraud Act of 2006 and in fact I've convicted under this area on several occasions. I can still think outloud, and it's a useful thing to do.

How many are going to check that you have a BSc in IT rather than an IT HND. I would agrue very few. No one is going to check you have a B in A Level Maths as opposed to a C.

My questions is relating to this. It's an intersting subject. There is a **HUGE** difference between lying about this... which it is, dishonest lies.

However, I think elaboration is seem very acceptable and is allowed. I think the line is quite clear but it's not easy to see where it actually lies in the private sector.

Just wondering really.

Castiel · 2 May 2014 at 00:58

My employer checked all my qualifications thoroughly...so no I would not recommend embellishing your qualifications on your CV.

Nix · 2 May 2014 at 01:14

Lying*

gambitt · 2 May 2014 at 01:15

I find find it hilarious when people quote the Fraud Act for stuff like this. As if any employer is ever going to call the police and say "please send someone to arrest this web developer who lied about having a BSc in IT". I think the only time anyone would pay attention would be if you were a plumber but said you were a surgeon and then started doing kidney transplants. Or a politician.

Small companies will not call your university to find out your results and only a fraction of large ones will.

Rroff · 2 May 2014 at 01:19

"Everyone" fudges some details i.e. talking up a job role but lying though is another matter and as mentioned above makes it really easy to get rid of you if the company wanted to and can also cause problems down the line, really not worth it.

Nix · 2 May 2014 at 01:28

Go into sales, they love liars.