Padding a Resume Can Come Back to Haunt You |
Job applicants sometimes exaggerate or even lie on their resumes or job applications in order to get a job. This can lead to the withdrawal of a job offer or being fired if the employer discovers the lie after the employee has been hired.
Even if you think that everyone else is doing it, you should not pad your resume. It will more than likely come back to haunt you if you do pad it. If a manager suspects an employee or potential employee of padding a resume or lying on a job application, the manager may get out their phone and call references, check claimed degrees, credentials, writings and awards.
Consequences of Padding
The following are some of the possible consequences of padding your resume:
- Cause damage to your reputation and ability to succeed on the job
- Embarrassment when you are caught
- Assignment to tasks that you do not have the necessary skills to complete
- May set into motion a series of lies to cover up the initial lie
- Loss of job
Even if you get hired based on the false information, your new employer can fire you at any time based solely on your misrepresentation of any fact that relates to your ability to perform your job. For instance, you can be fired for:
- Not reporting a record of prior felony convictions, if asked
- Claiming fraudulent completion of a college degree or specialized training
- Not being truthful about being dismissed in a previous job for honesty-related problems, such as stealing or falsifying records
Application Falsification Policy
Many employers have a policy that disqualifies job applicants who falsify material information, such as lying about work experience, on their employment applications. As long as such a policy is equally applied to all applicants, it is permissible. Application forms should and many times do contain a warning, usually near the signature line, advising the applicant of such a policy.
Statement of Accuracy
Many prospective employers will have an employee applicant sign a "statement of accuracy," which is on the employment application. The statement may contain some or all of the following:
- The application is not valid unless the applicant reads and signs the Statement of Accuracy
- The applicant certifies that the information provided in the application as well as any documents attached to the application, such as a resume, list of job references or transcripts is complete and accurate
- Falsification of the application or giving incomplete information on the application as well as falsification of other attached documents may result in the withdrawal of any employment offer and immediate termination of employment at any time
- An applicant will probably need to authorize and consent to the investigation of all statements contained in the application or any attachments and also authorize the release of records and information about the applicant's employment history, police record, educational background, military service or personal reputation
What Can an Employee Who has been Fired for Lying Do?
As long as the termination was not used as an excuse for firing an employee discriminatorily and didn't breach an employment contract where oral or written assurances of job security were made, employees who misrepresent themselves on applications generally can't retaliate by filing a lawsuit for wrongful termination or discrimination.
Questions for Your Attorney
- I was fired from my job for having exaggerated my skills. Is there anything I can do to either get my job back or get lost wages?
- I did not lie on the job application, but I did pad my resume that was attached to the application. Can I be fired if I have been doing an excellent job at work and received top performance ratings from my manager?
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