It is most interesting to read the comments about others. No one here said embellishing or lying is OK, something I would expect from those taking the time to post a reply in a forum as this one. There seems to be a difference of opinion on what a resume is for. From a HR standpoint, a resume is not a legal document. So, it can be incomplete and market only those skills and positions held you choose to. No resume contains fine print stating, “The information contained in this document is partial and only represents a portion of the subject’s experience, data, etc.” However, the information it contains can be scrutinized and bite you if found to be false. An employment application IS a legal document and the reason why we all complete one. It has lots of fine print and disclaimers.

It is most interesting to read the comments about others. No one here said embellishing or lying is OK, something I would expect from those taking the time to post a reply in a forum as this one. There seems to be a difference of opinion on what a resume is for. From a HR standpoint, a resume is not a legal document. So, it can be incomplete and market only those skills and positions held you choose to. No resume contains fine print stating, “The information contained in this document is partial and only represents a portion of the subject’s experience, data, etc.” However, the information it contains can be scrutinized and bite you if found to be false. An employment application IS a legal document and the reason why we all complete one. It has lots of fine print and disclaimers.

This is probably my favorite discussion happening on the blog right now. It really forces everyone to think through an issue that’s been in the public eye (football coaches getting fired for including a degree they never earned) and then forces everyone to turn the microscope on themselves.

The provocative question being asked by you and others is: what is the purpose of a resume. Is it a job seeker-created marketing piece or an employer created necessity. Based on someone’s answer there, the ability to leave out data or shift aspects becomes clearer. At least where you stand. This question has done what I hoped it would do. Get everyone thinking and challenging each other. And I find myself re-thinking my original opinion – which is great.

In the end, though, I will stick to my guns. While I think a resume is part of a marketing package of tools, I think the clear expectation from a potential employer is for the reasonable accuracy. Which, I think, should include a listing of all your employment experience. It turns from a marketing document to a employer document when it is background check time. It is then that you will appreciate your honesty. If not, the little thing you changed (which had no impact on the hiring decision anyway) may knock you off the horse. And in rare cases, prevent you from getting the job.

This is probably my favorite discussion happening on the blog right now. It really forces everyone to think through an issue that’s been in the public eye (football coaches getting fired for including a degree they never earned) and then forces everyone to turn the microscope on themselves.

The provocative question being asked by you and others is: what is the purpose of a resume. Is it a job seeker-created marketing piece or an employer created necessity. Based on someone’s answer there, the ability to leave out data or shift aspects becomes clearer. At least where you stand. This question has done what I hoped it would do. Get everyone thinking and challenging each other. And I find myself re-thinking my original opinion – which is great.

In the end, though, I will stick to my guns. While I think a resume is part of a marketing package of tools, I think the clear expectation from a potential employer is for the reasonable accuracy. Which, I think, should include a listing of all your employment experience. It turns from a marketing document to a employer document when it is background check time. It is then that you will appreciate your honesty. If not, the little thing you changed (which had no impact on the hiring decision anyway) may knock you off the horse. And in rare cases, prevent you from getting the job.

I believe for a career-focused professional, the purpose of your resume is to present a concise snapshot of your most relevant and positive credentials for employment. I don’t believe it’s supposed to act as an absolute chronological listing of every experience you’ve ever had.

There are scenarios where it may not be appropriate to include a short employment engagement. It may have been a very short employment experience, say less than 2 months, that didn’t work out for a number of reasons:

* Your experience on the job may have drastically differed from your expectations that were formed during the interview process.
* The workplace was a caustic environment that was detrimental to your health.
* The company folded within that short time frame and you didn’t really gain any relevant experience that furthers your skill sets.

If you agree that a resume’s purpose is to include your most relevant and positive credentials, that I don’t see how one could say that not including every experience you’ve ever had on your resume can be construed as “fudging” or being “dishonest”.

I’m in sales and I can tell you that I don’t mention to my prospects every failed implementation of the product I’m selling no matter how few the number. These failed implementations may have nothing to do with the product’s quality or that of our services staff. The failure may have been due to the poor requirements laid out by the customer that dedicated no resources of their own to ensure the product’s successful implementation.

Is it relevant to this prospect to mention this experience before they agree to purchase our product? Probably not. All it would do is introduce unnecessary Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt in the mind of the prospect and hurt my selling efforts because the experience is not relevant.

That being said, if you are shifting dates to make them appear longer or to extend it to a new calendar year on the employment experiences you do list then this is being dishonest. If you are listing experiences you’ve never had and degrees you never obtained then this is being dishonest.

As the saying goes, honesty is the best policy.

I believe for a career-focused professional, the purpose of your resume is to present a concise snapshot of your most relevant and positive credentials for employment. I don’t believe it’s supposed to act as an absolute chronological listing of every experience you’ve ever had.

There are scenarios where it may not be appropriate to include a short employment engagement. It may have been a very short employment experience, say less than 2 months, that didn’t work out for a number of reasons:

* Your experience on the job may have drastically differed from your expectations that were formed during the interview process.
* The workplace was a caustic environment that was detrimental to your health.
* The company folded within that short time frame and you didn’t really gain any relevant experience that furthers your skill sets.

If you agree that a resume’s purpose is to include your most relevant and positive credentials, that I don’t see how one could say that not including every experience you’ve ever had on your resume can be construed as “fudging” or being “dishonest”.

I’m in sales and I can tell you that I don’t mention to my prospects every failed implementation of the product I’m selling no matter how few the number. These failed implementations may have nothing to do with the product’s quality or that of our services staff. The failure may have been due to the poor requirements laid out by the customer that dedicated no resources of their own to ensure the product’s successful implementation.

Is it relevant to this prospect to mention this experience before they agree to purchase our product? Probably not. All it would do is introduce unnecessary Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt in the mind of the prospect and hurt my selling efforts because the experience is not relevant.

That being said, if you are shifting dates to make them appear longer or to extend it to a new calendar year on the employment experiences you do list then this is being dishonest. If you are listing experiences you’ve never had and degrees you never obtained then this is being dishonest.

As the saying goes, honesty is the best policy.

After a few weeks, I realized the new job was not what I had hoped it would be (I was miserable), and left after just ninety days – with the help of an attorney who negotiated a release from my employment contract after my new boss threatened to sue me if I left.

I put the job on my resume because it truly is a well-known and respected company, but found it became the focus of conversation in interviews – none of it positive. I explained it was not a “good fit” and “it wasn’t what I hoped it would be.”

I never did find a permanent new job, so I ended up starting a small retail business and getting involved in many community activities in that same small town, which I just sold after three years so I could move back to Southern California with my new wife.

I’ve officially been back in the job market for a few weeks.

I dropped the “bad” job from my resume, and refer to the entire Arkansas experience (at least to my friends) as my “Green Acres” phase.

Am I being dishonest? What would you do?

After a few weeks, I realized the new job was not what I had hoped it would be (I was miserable), and left after just ninety days – with the help of an attorney who negotiated a release from my employment contract after my new boss threatened to sue me if I left.

I put the job on my resume because it truly is a well-known and respected company, but found it became the focus of conversation in interviews – none of it positive. I explained it was not a “good fit” and “it wasn’t what I hoped it would be.”

I never did find a permanent new job, so I ended up starting a small retail business and getting involved in many community activities in that same small town, which I just sold after three years so I could move back to Southern California with my new wife.

I’ve officially been back in the job market for a few weeks.

I dropped the “bad” job from my resume, and refer to the entire Arkansas experience (at least to my friends) as my “Green Acres” phase.

Am I being dishonest? What would you do?

I find it highly ironic all the soul searching/ethical concerns job seekers feel they must adhere to in this kind of situation. If employers did not treat employees like cat litter, perhaps I may feel differently, but my entire job experience has shown me that I am a disposable employee who can be fired on a moment’s notice for whatever reason the employer decides. Experience has taught me that if I don’t look out for my own best interests then no one else will.

I find it highly ironic all the soul searching/ethical concerns job seekers feel they must adhere to in this kind of situation. If employers did not treat employees like cat litter, perhaps I may feel differently, but my entire job experience has shown me that I am a disposable employee who can be fired on a moment’s notice for whatever reason the employer decides. Experience has taught me that if I don’t look out for my own best interests then no one else will.

I like the fact that you are challenging the status quo, however. And I’m sure a lot of people would agree with you . . .

I like the fact that you are challenging the status quo, however. And I’m sure a lot of people would agree with you . . .