Career Advice » Career Advice Articles » Resume Advice » Exaggerating Qualifications
We all try to put the best gloss on our skills and background but taking that too far can have serious results. There have been numerous court cases in Canada addressing a candidate’s pre-hiring misrepresentations.
Frequently, the courts agree with the employer that a misrepresentation of educational background or work experience amounts to dishonesty, providing just cause for dismissal.
The just cause termination of an employee for misrepresentation has been upheld in a range of circumstances. In one, an applicant for the position of controller lied about having experience with a particular computer program. It turned out he barely knew how to turn the computer on and off.
Avoiding a later termination for misrepresentation is relatively simple. Some easy guidelines:
• always tell the truth about your educational background and work experience;
• don’t exaggerate the extent of your personal skill set; and
• be forthcoming and honest when answering a potential employer’s questions.
When a new job is at stake, it can be tempting to embellish your strengths or cover up your weaknesses. But the chances of getting away with half-truths during the hiring process are getting slimmer all the time. Many employers now routinely use professional background checkers to investigate your claims of greatness.
About Robert K. Smithson
Robert’s legal practice is focused exclusively on the areas of labour law and employment law. Robert has a unique background as a labour and employment lawyer. He began as in-house union counsel and later moved on to represent management clients. Recently, he served as Director of Human Resources & Industrial Relations at Western Star Trucks in Kelowna.