What happens if you get caught lying in resume?

Resumes are not official or legal documents, it is not technically illegal to lie on a resume.

It actually depends upon the rules and policies of the company. Each company has its own policies. One company might treat lying as a fraud and others might not, they will simply reject the resume.

However, this also depends on the extent to which the lie is - for example, if legal documents like a passport,college degree or educational degree are falsified, this could result in legal action for falsifying documents.

InstaResume.io Consequences of lying on resume

If you are lying on your resume, you have to lie each and every time to immortalize the falsehood. It's very easy for hiring managers to confirm whether you are lying or not.It just takes one background check to know whether you're lying or stating the truth. This can be problematic.

• Lying on your job application can lead to the termination of your job application.
• If you lie on your job application your name can be blacklisted and this can distinctly decrease your chances of finding a job in that company again.
• Lying on your cv can lead to the loss of a professional license. For example, if you claim to have certain skills as a nurse and you end up hurting your patient because of your inability to treat patients, special measures could be taken by the board members in order to cancel your medical license.

There are a number of different lies you can find on a resume. What happens if you mention-

Lying about education on resume- Some candidates lie about acquiring certain degrees or certifications by preparing fake documents. Larger organizations will have more resources to research your education. Claiming to be an IIT graduate when you really have a degree from a private college is one of the worst things you can lie about on your resume, according to hiring managers. You can omit your education if it's something you are not very proud of. But be careful, framing false documents is illegal. If you get caught, you could end up getting sued. You can be charged with a criminal fraud offense.

False skills- It's very easy to say you're proficient in everything on your resume. Candidates might end up stretching the truth by using indistinct terms to describe their skills and experience. Interviewers will spot people who aren't quite as knowledgeable and skilled as they initially appear. For example, a job candidate claimed to be proficient in javascript in his/her work experience but when the interviewer showed him this code and asked him why is forEach used here:

const elements = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5];
elements.forEach(element => {
  console.log(element);
  if(element == 2){
    return;
    //break;
    //continue;
  }
})

The candidate was unable to answer what does he even mean by forEach in this code snippet, Failing such a basic test was a sure sign that the person stretched the truth. Situations like these can cause real trouble. Once the recruiter notices that you're unable to complete the given task, they could become suspicious about your qualifications and conduct further research to verify your abilities.

Lying about employment dates on resume- You must be specific when mentioning your employment dates. Trying to cover a gap by listing your job history by year, rather than month and year, is also suspicious and might evoke a hiring manager to do some further research. One call to your past employer is all it takes for someone to find out that you got laid off back in March, not August.

Sometimes our actions are not well calculated and we choose the wrong path. But you can always undo your mistakes. Every problem can be solved. If you have lied on your resume and haven't been caught yet you can follow the following measures-:

• If you have lied about the skills, you can simply live up to the expectations of your new employers. You can work hard in order to achieve the required goal and learn the missing skill set.
• You can tell your hiring manager you've noticed some mistakes and update your resume. You can resubmit your resume after making corrections.
• You can plead guilty. This might cost your job but this way you will not have to worry about getting caught.