Lying in an interview

[ChroniC]

It's a dog eat dog world.
If you knew everything there was to know about a certain subject/area of expertise but have no showable experience on paper would you lie if you knew you could get away with it?
Let's say for example it's in a position that wasn't going to get anyone hurt or killed, or anyone to lose any money or something similar.

You could embelish to stand out, would you or even should you because you competition might.

 

[ChroniC]

Personally, no. Many employers now do background checks that include employment history.

If you can prove to the interviewer that you have the knowledge, and can reasonably explain why you have said knowledge but no recorded experience you shouldn't need to lie.

Yes you could prove the knowledge but against a competitor who also have the relevant knowledge and experience on paper, your at a diadvantage regardless of being equally skilled.

 

[ChroniC]

You can be self employed in a job and work and train doing it, but because your aren't in a company with a proven track record it can be difficult to move back into the work place.

 

[ChroniC]

You can't be an expert on anything without experience in dealing with unintended behaviour of that device or application.

If you've read up on a product and you're running it in a home lab (for example) then that is still relevant experience - but you should be open that it's a home lab. It won't be counted as a negative.

I have been working in the particular field now for 5 years, but my cv has only 2 or 3years previous experience in fields which were of a lesser level. I choose to go it alone, and now for job security in a tight market, etc I am looking to go back into employment.
This hasn't boded well as people who have come from other companies are getting preferencial treatment, even though techincally they have the same or less experience, but have it down on paper.

It's annoying and what do I have to lose to embelish the truth, and just deal with it later if it happens.
A bit like an olympic athlete. Take every advatage I can in this world as someone else wil.

 

[ChroniC]

I guess I fundamentally disagree with your claim that because you've been doing a less advanced version of something that you swear you know all about for three years and have worked around that thing for five years, that you bring the same skills to the table as somebody who has been actively using these skills at the advanced level for five years.

Just be honest, nobody is going to mark you down for knowing where your field progresses from the point you're at now, but they'll be able to see right through a claim of having more experience at a higher level than you possess. I don't disagree with the idea of applying for the job you want rather than the one you're qualified for, but that revolves more around taking a punt and hoping that a recruiter can see what you're getting at, and less about making a claim that you can't back up.

I think you misread my post.
I haven't been working around it, I have been doing it and more. I choose to become freelance and work contracted at home doing the same thing as people in an office/agency and thus i have accrewed more skills by self teaching through necessity to make money. However that is not appreciated when someone can say they have worked in that particular position for a particular company. I have found.

 

[ChroniC]

No. I would find a way to demonstrate my ability. Stating you know everything there is to know about something isn't, I suggest, something that will endear you to people you seek to employ you.

Of course it's not. I haven't been doing that, but it also means thats the exact reason I can't find the advantage over those with the badge of honor from a position with a reputable competitor. Finding that way to demonstrate that ability is always overshadowed by myself being the employer, when having the same skills as the person they choose to employ. :/

So what was the 'lie' you were planning to tell? That you'd been doing it for a company?

Nobody should really care whether your experience has come from working internally at a company or through contracting (outside of if they were recruiting you to be a consultant and therefore would find those skills relevant). Are you receiving feedback that people specifically want experience in an employed role? If not I'd suggest that perhaps they feel you'd need more time to adjust to working for someone else than they are prepared to spend.

It seems to be a roadblock from employment agencies and in a fair amount of interviews, they shoudln't care but for some reason they do. Maybe they see freelancing as unregisterable proof.
I know my previous employer from many years ago very well. I know he would be happy to just agree with whatever I choose to tell them of the positions held.

 

[ChroniC]

Have you shared this concern with the people you seek employment with and offered them a method to demonstrate your knowledge or addressed this point with them directly. Lying is not the basis to start a new role, it will catch you out.

I have. Hence the thread. They obviously never tell you the reason they choose that particular person over you, but feedback has always been that they found someone who had more "office" experience. Like I'm some tool whose never worked in an office before. Having freelance experience to me, I thought would be a star for being able to run your own business but its feels that it seems like a stain on my cv.
I can only speculate these examples as they aren't forth coming in telling you your downfalls.

 

[ChroniC]

How do you talk about your experience with the recruiters? Presumably you describe the clients you worked for - "large digital content producer" or whatever, and then are prepared to discuss this actual meat of the project and the client in more detail (obviously depending on contract terms) if required?

If you are doing that and still people are overlooking you then I can't really help but think there's something else that is making them uneasy. Have you had any feedback at all?

Maybe so, finding that something is proving difficult.
I have an extensive portfolio, that I take with me, explain my current situation, whilst trying to explain why I would choose to leave something that seems to be of a similar nature to the "employed" position they are offering. Often they think this is suspicious in itself. Some people can't understand that when you start out on your own why you'd choose to come back unless your failing. Rather than maybe wanting job security, not enjoying doing the admin as much as the work etc and not getting cabin fever.