Lying About a Short-Term Job?
Here is one from the mailbox:
Hey Lance,
Love your blog! But I’m here to get your advice and
opinion. I will be interviewing for a position that I am very
interested in but I resign from my last job a little over a month ago.
I have a new job but I don’t want to list the new job on my resume. I
want to know if I should lie about my last job covering the month and
half that have gone by. If I do lie, what are the chances the potential
employer calling my last job asking for my employment dates or do they
have software that tells them the length of my employment at my last
job. My main concerns is them offering the job then 2 weeks later
having to terminate me cause of my resume. Thanks in advance.
Also, what all do really comes out during the background check?
Where should I start with this? First of all, employers will call your previous jobs and, bare minimum, they will check your dates to make sure it is consistent. Now they may call you and get an explanation or they may throw your resume in the garbage. So, if you absolutely must lie, don’t add on an extra month and a half to the job before last.
So assuming that you can’t lie about your length of time at your second to last job, the question really remains for you to answer: is a gap in employment better than trying to explain why I am leaving this job after a month and a half? That is really a matter of opinion on the part of the company you’re interviewing with but in my estimation, I’d rather know that you’re doing something. Even if it is unrelated. Or menial. Or embarrassing.
A background check won’t do much to verify your employment history past what you state on your resume (so you must be accurate with dates, titles, pay ranges, etc…). It will check your criminal and educational background as well. And this is really only the good background check companies.
The real issue is why even consider risking it if you like this company? Starting off by lying is a bad way to start off any relationship even if you feel it necessary to get past the gatekeeper. You’ll always have to remember that lie. It is a real bummer you are in this situation but good luck.
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Your HR Guy is a Human Resources Generalist practicing in the field. But don't let that fool you, this isn't a boring blog. I seek relevance and humor in a place we will spend much of our lives. Everything from workplace issues, job seeking and terrible bosses. Read more...
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I agree - I would rather know that the candidate is doing than be lied to. I will eventually find out anyways….in the break room on the candidate’s 3rd day (or whatever).
It is much better to admit that you took a job, walked in your first day and thought “oh no, what did I do?” than lie to a potential employer. EVERYONE has had or will have a job where they realize very quickly they don’t like it, it wasn’t what they thought it would be, it’s not the right fit, the boss is totally nuts, etc. Realist HR folks know this.
However, HR people that hire for the best of the best companies that candidates are fighting to get an interview with may be able to afford to pass on these candidates. It depends on how hard the position is to fill as well as the market conditions, geographic area, etc. Some companies can afford to be very, very picky. Most I’ve worked for cannot.
When it comes to background checks most companies use third parties. Therefore any search they do is going to be subject to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (even if they don’t check your credit). Read the release carefully to know what they will be looking at. Some (like me) only check criminal background. Others may use the vendor to check references, verify former employment and/or education. Also keep in mind though that if the degree you have isn’t required (per the ad or job description) they may not bother. This stuff costs money when you have a vendor doing it!!