Have you ever lied to get a job?

[thegreenyogi]

It isn't uncommon to hear stories about people who will insert fake information on curriculums or say they can do something when it isn't true. So I wonder have you ever done it? Do you know anyone who did and how did it work out for you?

[AI Opinion]

I never recommend lying for a job—I've seen it backfire too many times.

In my 20+ years coaching, I’ve seen people exaggerate skills or titles. A few got hired, but the problems came later: they couldn’t perform, lost trust, or were fired when background checks or references exposed the truth.

A better approach:
- Emphasize real strengths and achievements
- Be honest about what you’re learning
- Show evidence of fast learning (courses, projects, certifications)

Reputation is hard to rebuild once damaged; long-term, honesty wins.

[abc3643]

While I never lied to get a job, I didn't dissuade positive assumptions about me that the interviewing company had about me.

For instance, I had been a turbine control systems engineer but was let go in a massive layoff in January 2003. Unfortunately, my former employer - a household name - was the major engineering employer in my metro area in upstate NY; there weren't many others. So, for over 2 years, I was unemployed except for a weekend job I got as a bellman at a local hotel. I couldn't keep my family alive on that; I only made just enough to pay for heating oil to get through the harsh winters.

Well, in early 2005, I was interview by a small turbine controls engineering company started by two men who had worked for the same large company that I had been working for. In fact, almost everyone in this small company had worked in that large company. While I did have controls experience, I didn't have the "closer to the front" experience that they wanted/need; I was more of an "ivory tower" guy. I said to myself that I could learn anything and felt I had to at least give this a shot. I didn't lie to them, but I didn't let on that I had no "field engineer" experience. I needed this job to survive, so I didn't get them any inkling that I was someone they shouldn't hire.

I got the job... and, for the first month or so, I still had my bellman weekend job, so I was working 7 days/week. I liked my bellman job but had to quit it eventually; it was minimum wage two days/week and I would have to give it up because my new job would require me to travel internationally so I gave my bellman boss a heads-up on that.

Anyway, back at the new job, the first 6 months was a probation period. The environment was very dysfunctional and I hated it but put up with it because we needed the income. I remember one coworker just outright quit without a new job lined up because this place which I will call "Irish Control Systems" was so fucked up. (The two founders were Irish immigrants and a few employees were Irish immigrants as well. Saint Patrick's Day, we closed at Noon so they could go to bar and get shitfaced.) My immediate boss was not Irish, but he was an Indian immigrant. He was a bit of an asshole too. Long story short: I was not a good fit for this place. My first field trip, which was with the obnoxious co-founder, was for two weeks at that plant in Longview Washington that just had that accident that killed about a dozen people. I used to walk right by the accident site every day... Well, I "tripped the unit" and it was apparent that I was a "field virgin" so to speak. The co-founder boss was already back at the home office and he gave me shit over the phone. Two weeks later, I took a 4th of July Weekend trip with my wife, but when I returned, it was just abysmal. I was given my 2 weeks notice on my wife's 48th birthday. I gotta tell you: I was relieved. I was NAUSEOUS going to work every morning. So, by August 1st, I was unemployed again...

In December, I got a new job in the industry I am in; I am now an avionics systems engineer in the aerospace industry. I never lied to get the job and developed such a reputation that I've never had a real interview in the past 20 years; my interviews go like this: "Are you available?" "Yeah" "When can you start?"

So, bottom-line: I won't lie to get a job, but I will keep my mouth shut if what I say might harm my chances and I really want the job. (There are jobs that I didn't want and spoke up torpedoing myself.)

[Friendlybro79]

When I was 17 I lied on an interview hahaha. Ok so hear me out because I was a kid and I not as mature. The interviewer was the manager and he was taking it so seriously for a sporting goods store cashier.

So this job was entry level retail job and he asked me a questions (paraphrasing) tell me a time you had to do something urgent that you were unsure you could do and had to do it by yourself without help.

I couldn't think of anything so I said ah fuck it. If I don't get this job who cares? I'll go to the other sporting goods store down the block ha.

So I say, (paraphrasing again it was like 30 years ago) well recently I was in a supermarket to go pick up some things for my parents and I saw this woman start to panic. She put her hands around her throat. She was choking... I didn't know what to do so I screamed for help but there was no one around... she looked at me... what was I supposed to do? Let her choke to death? So I remember my whole life seeing those Heimlich maneuver signs everywhere. I told the woman quickly, I'm going to help you. I'm going to try the Heimlich... after 3 attempts she dislodged a lozenge that was stuck. I'm so glad I was there. It was terrifying but she is ok.

The manager looks at me with his mouth open and says well I wasn't expecting that but good answer wow.

I got the job and told him a year later I made it up because the question was stupid. I'm like I was 17 how much life experience do you think I have lol. He laughed so hard he called his boss to ask if he should fire me as a joke. He laughed too and said no give him some credit. He came clean and the question is stupid lol.

[thegreenyogi]

Great story!! Lol!!

[Nikki1989]

Nope, but I have been good at selling myself to an employer. I am not shy about that.

[sage2021]

Only lied about my age. I said that I was 19 when I was only 16.

[Shiprex]

Made up stories in interviews to get around a tough question yes I have done this.

[loveslongnails]

Let's just say I may have overstated my experience at the time. LOL

[Still-alive]

I’ve left jobs I’ve worked off my resume but not outright lying lol

[BCRanger10]

No, I have not.

[Anonymous]

Not yet. That's about to change.😆

[Paige2006]

No I haven't