Why Lying In Your CV Can Be Your Worst Nightmare
By Selipha Kihagi
You have been invited to a job interview after making it to the list of the shortlisted candidates. Any jobseeker in the Kenyan market should be excited about this opportunity, but for some reason, you’re not. Why? You told lies in your CV.
“I was invited to a job interview but I’m worried I might not get the job. I ‘kinda’ exaggerated my experience in my CV, I don’t know if they’ll find out,” a friend shares in a conversation.
If you told a lie in your CV so you can get the job, or you are thinking of lying when sending that application, here are ways your interview is going to be the worst nightmare in your career.
How Lying in Your CV will be your worst Interview nightmare
1. You will not be adequately prepared for the interview
Once a lie is told, it has to be backed up with a believable explanation. You already know that and now all your focus is wasted on trying to find an explanation that the recruiting officers or employers will believe. You forget about doing a background research for the company or going through some sample questions you might be asked.
2. You will be asked more questions than usual
In an interview, one question leads to the next and this depends on the answers you give. So, if you prepared and rehearsed how you will back up the exaggerated responsibilities in your CV, you will be in the interview room much longer.
Not every answer you think reasonable will be believable, there is a difference and the recruiting officer will be able to tell a lie when they see one.
3. The recruiting officer suspects you lied, they want a confirmation
You didn’t anticipate this did you? Or if you did, you are beyond anxious and are having a hard time describing yourself as the interview starts. It could be that your experience is too telling and the interviewer called your referees. Whichever it is, if the interviewer smells something fishy, you are bound to have a long day.
It is advisable to always tell the truth. Don’t think adding on your skills will give you the job, you might appear overqualified and miss your chance.
