Probably not.
Job seekers want to stand out from the crowd, and often think attention-seeking stunts and an embellished résumé will do the trick. However, a recent survey from CareerBuilder shows that 3 in 4 HR managers reported having caught a lie on a résumé, and only 12% of HR managers are more likely to consider calling a candidate that does something unusual or outrageous in for an interview.
Perhaps the need to stand out comes from wanting to make every second count. Among human resource managers, who are typically the gatekeepers of which applicants get in front of the actual hiring managers, 39% said they spend less than a minute initially looking at a résumé. Nearly 1 in 5 spent less than 30 seconds.
Rosemary Haefner, Chief human Resources Officer, CareerBuilder noted, "If crafted well, your résumé is one of the most valuable marketing tools you have. In a matter of seconds, it can make or break your chances of moving along the hiring journey with a company.” She continued, “That's why it's important to be proactive with your résumé and avoid embellishments or mistakes. Take advantage of the tools available to you — the worst thing you can do is send a generic copy out to employers and then sit and hope for a response."
Most outrageous résumé mistakes
In the survey, HR managers and hiring managers shared their most notable and cringe-worthy real-life examples of gaffes. These embarrassing résumé blunders serve as a reminder to always proofread your résumé.
- An applicant claimed to have written computer code the hiring manager had actually written. Both had the same previous job, but the applicant did not know that fact.
- An applicant included a picture with all of his pets.
- An applicant said he worked for Microsoft but had no idea who Bill Gates was.
- An applicant's résumé was lifted from the Internet, did not match the cover letter.
- An applicant said he studied under Nietzsche.
- An applicant stated that he had tried and failed a certification exam three times, but was planning to try again.
- An applicant claimed to be an anti-terrorist spy for the CIA at the same time period he was in elementary school.
Paul Arkwright
Publisher
