Lying To Get a Job

[illram]

I mean, obviously this is a bad idea. Aside from the obvious, from a legal perspective, thanks to what is known as the "after acquired evidence" doctrine, if you lie to get your job, you are basically totally screwed if your employer wrongfully terminates you.

Do not lie to employers, kids.

 

[Souron]

As would I. Of course I'm a little more lenient when it comes to small embellishments because I don't see anything wrong with a little bit of harmless self-promotion. It is the complete lies that I have a problem with.

I don't see why self-promotion need include anything that could be called a lie.

 

[Pegasus_77]

Nope, but I've caught multiple people lying to get jobs.

by caught do you mean you are an HR?

 

[Zelig]

I mean, obviously this is a bad idea. Aside from the obvious, from a legal perspective, thanks to what is known as the "after acquired evidence" doctrine, if you lie to get your job, you are basically totally screwed if your employer wrongfully terminates you.

Do not lie to employers, kids.

So you're saying I should preferentially hire liars so that I don't have to worry about wrongfully terminating employees?

 

[Tarquelne]

Impractical. Change your copies of their CVs to make them liars.

 

[timtofly]

If you're going to lie make sure you have come from a long way away.

If there's a chance you'll be found out, you will be found out.

I worked 5 jobs before the current one. Two of them, I was fired from and they still exist. 3 I walked away from and they were my best references, but they no longer exist. The two I was fired from, would probably give decent references, but the reason I was fired would be a major sticking point with most businesses for hiring me.

I would never lie, but I may try to avoid revealing my weakest point, that may preclude me from getting a job.

 

[illram]

So you're saying I should preferentially hire liars so that I don't have to worry about wrongfully terminating employees?

As long as no one can tie you to this post, yes. Although you live in Canada so all bets are off.

 

[downtown]

by caught do you mean you are an HR?

I used to be. I'm not anymore (although I still interview job candidates)

 

[Borachio]

So you're saying I should preferentially hire liars so that I don't have to worry about wrongfully terminating employees?

Everyone lies. It's impossible not to, imo. Even with the best intentions in the world, we simply don't know what the whole truth is, often enough.

A totally truthful person (if there is any such animal) is never going to find employment, and even if they did they'd be extremely unpopular.

(I'm being... what?... hyperbolic, perhaps.)

 

[Pegasus_77]

I used to be. I'm not anymore (although I still interview job candidates)

what is the most unforgettable interview for you?
Did you hire somebody who turned out to be a very valuable talent?

 

[ywhtptgtfo]

I never outright lie to try to get a job. But I do reluctantly exaggerate my skills in some areas, like marking boxes that say I'm friendly and willing to smile and greet customers and the like. I feel dirty afterwards, but what else am I to do? Are they really going to want to hire someone they know is a shy-ish, stone-faced introvert?

Are you as snotty as your profile photo suggests? Assuming that's not you.

 

[Goodfella]

That's Christoph Waltz in Django Unchained. I don't see how it's snotty.

 

[ywhtptgtfo]

He looks very unimpressed and about to reject the next idea proposed to him.

 

[Light Cleric]

I don't think the avatar or what he posted are snotty.

Although now at least I know where the avatar is from, before he just reminded me of a guy from an Arby's commercial.

 

[civver_764]

Yeah I lie about my criminal record.

 

[downtown]

what is the most unforgettable interview for you?
Did you hire somebody who turned out to be a very valuable talent?

I can't say many of them are especially unforgettable. There was the candidate who misrepresented her experience when she was a stripper that became a kinda funny interview, and a handful people of people came in who were just dramatically unprepared for the experience, but most of them essentially follow a script.

I've hired lots of people who were very important contributors for their organizations.

Yeah I lie about my criminal record.

In the US, that's probably the single dumbest thing you could possibly lie about.

 

[cramstpuee757]

Of course not. That's like digging your own grave

 

[Commodore]

I don't see why self-promotion need include anything that could be called a lie.

It would be small things like rounding up on numbers to make yourself seem a little more productive or valuable as an employee. To me there is nothing wrong with making yourself seem just a tiny bit better than you actually are, it's the outright lies (which I have dealt with) that really grind my gears.

 

[Borachio]

Yeah I lie about my criminal record.

You mean you pretend you've got one when you haven't?

I can imagine that might be useful. Depending on what jobs you want to avoid.

 

[Pegasus_77]

I think he meant the opposite