“No One’s Buying It”: Why Lying on Your Resume Is a Terrible Idea

Time to call a spade a spade: You can lie on your resume. But you shouldn’t. Ever.

We get it. The pressure to stand out is real. You’re applying for a job you know you can do, but maybe your degree doesn’t match. Or you’ve got the skills, but not the official title. Or there’s a gap on your resume that feels weird to explain. The temptation to fudge a few details is right there—just a quick title change, a new date, a little creative license.

But here’s the truth: a dishonest resume is like a house built on sand. Sooner or later, it crumbles.

Plus, there’s this simple fact of the matter. Lying on your resume isn’t just risky—it’s a really, really bad look. Here’s why.

Employers Will Check

Between background checks, reference calls, and good old-fashioned LinkedIn sleuthing, employers are doing their homework. They’ll verify job titles, dates of employment, degrees, and even licenses or certifications. And when something doesn’t match? You don’t get a chance to explain—it’s usually an automatic “no.”

Recruiters and hiring managers have seen it all: the “Vice President” who was actually an intern, the “MBA” that came from a nonexistent school, the mysterious employment gap disguised with overlapping jobs. Trust us—they catch this stuff all the time.

They’re not stupid.

A lie that gets you in the door can just as quickly get you escorted out.

It Destroys Trust—Permanently

If you lie and get caught, that employer won’t just reject your application. You’ll be flagged. Your name will be remembered for all the wrong reasons. In smaller industries, word travels fast. And even if you somehow land the role and they find out later, it could cost you your job—no matter how well you’re performing.

Hiring isn’t just about skills; it’s about character. If a company is investing in you, they need to believe in your integrity. A lie says the opposite.

It Creates a Performance Trap

Let’s say your lie goes unnoticed, and you’re hired. Congrats—you now have to be the person you pretended to be.

Talk about living a double life.

That made-up coding skill? You’re going to be expected to use it. That fake management experience? You might be handed a team. That lie becomes your new standard, and the pressure to keep up the act can be overwhelming, let alone anxiety-inducing.

Lying doesn’t just set you up to fail—it sets you up to be found out. And even if you make it work, you’ll likely be working twice as hard to stay afloat.

Get ready to lose a lot of sleep—and likely develop an ulcer, too.

It’s Not Necessary—Really

You don’t have to lie to make your resume stronger. That’s where strategy, not fiction, comes in.

Here’s the better path:

• Reframe your experience honestly but powerfully.
• Highlight transferable skills.
• Show career progression, even if it’s unconventional.
• Be transparent about gaps—and own your story.
• Focus on what you bring to the table, not what you think they want to hear.

At Grammar Chic, we work with job seekers every day who think their background isn’t “good enough.” What we find time and time again is that the truth—told the right way—is always more compelling than a well-constructed lie.

The Internet Is Forever

Remember that resumes aren’t just Word files or PDFs anymore. Your resume needs to align with your LinkedIn profile, your digital footprint, and even what your references will say. If someone does a quick Google search and finds inconsistencies, you’re done.

Think of your resume as part of your professional brand. Would you lie on your company’s marketing materials? Hopefully not. The same goes for your personal brand. Keep it clean, consistent, and real.

The Bottom Line

You deserve a job that wants the real you, not the inflated or imaginary version of you. Lying might feel like a shortcut, but it’s almost always a detour—or a dead end.

The truth may not look flashy on paper. But it speaks louder, lasts longer, and gets you into places where you can actually succeed.

Need Help Telling Your True Story?

At Grammar Chic, we specialize in helping job seekers craft resumes that are honest and impressive. You don’t need to embellish to shine—you just need the right words. We’ll help you highlight your value, position your experience strategically, and show hiring managers what makes you the right fit.

And yes—we’ve been asked to stretch the truth before. To make things up. To make up roles, create a title that was bigger than it actually was, or fabricate accomplishments.

Look, we might be able to write fiction—but we don’t do that on resumes. That’s just not our style or the way we work.

Therefore, if you’re looking for someone to lie for you, we’re not the resume writers for you. But if you want to tell your real story in a compelling, confident way—let’s talk. Because the truth? It works.

Contact us today to get started on a resume you can be proud of.