Resume lie is not way to find job

Some job-seekers will go to great lengths to gain an advantage in this struggling economy. Is it really worth the risk to stretch the truth on a resume or resort to fake references or fake diplomas? Job candidates may want to think twice before taking this risk; it could come back to haunt them.

"There is very little proof that any form of resume boosting directly results in a job interview, much less a job offer," says John A. Challenger, chief executive officer of Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc. "In contrast, there are scores of examples of individuals who have been eliminated from candidacy or fired after a fraudulent resume was uncovered."

Job candidates seem to think that boosting their resumes is an easy solution to the weak economy. ADP, a business services provider, said that 46 percent of employment, education and/or credential reference checks done in 2008 found inconsistencies between what the applicant presented and what the source reported.

Even if all companies don't have the time to do in-depth reference checks, it still doesn't give job-seekers the right to lie on their resumes. A company could find out later that you lied on your resume, which may resort in your dismissal from the business.

Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc. points out some top fabrications used during the interview process:

n Education: Wrote down degrees from schools never attended, inflated grade point averages and named degrees from online, nonaccredited institutions.

n Job Title: Created a title or tried to enhance a work title in order to get a higher salary offer.

n Compensation: Increased past or current salaries and benefits to obtain more money from a hiring manager.

n Reason for leaving: Blamed a downsize in a company when he or she was really fired for poor performance.

For more information, visit the website www.challengergray.com.