The Risks and Realities of Lying on Your CV

Hey everyone, welcome back to another episode of "Working On It!" If you're new here, I'm Lauren Spearman and I'm joined by my awesome co-host, Molly Johnson-Jones. Today, we’re diving into a pretty sticky topic—Lying On Your CV. Yeah, we've all been tempted to embellish now and then, but where’s the line between making your CV shine and straight-up fibbing?

In this episode, we’re going to break it all down. We’ll chat about why some folks feel the need to beef up their resumes and the risks that come with it. From exaggerating your job titles and skills to claiming degrees you didn’t quite finish, we’ll cover the forgivable little tweaks and the big no-nos.

Lauren’s gonna talk about why showing you’re eager to learn and improve might actually be better than sneaking in some fake work experience. Molly will share how lying about important qualifications can get you in serious trouble and why being accurate in your job titles and responsibilities is crucial.

Plus, we’ll touch on the whole degree requirement debate—do you really need one for every job? Lauren’s got some strong feelings on this, and Molly weighs in with her CEO perspective. We’ll also bust some myths about Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and chat about whether you should ever lie about your salary history (spoiler: probably not!).

And hey, we love hearing from you! Send us your questions or share your own CV confessions on Instagram or TikTok @workingonit.pod, or drop us an email at hello@workingonit.show.

Key Points:

00:00 Lied about speaking French on my resume. Oops!

05:22 People adjust their CVs a bit to avoid red flags.

07:54 Asking about past salary? Definitely a red flag.

11:53 CVs matter, but questions reveal extra skills.

12:43 Screening questions help decide interview chances.

15:43 People adjust job titles to better match expectations.

20:03 Level up your skills fast to match expectations.

23:43 Employees asking for feedback just want to improve.

27:05 Tweaking dates on a CV is understandable to cover employment gaps.

29:18 Adjust your CV to match each job role.

Hosts Bio

Lauren Spearman brings a wealth of experience from her career in advertising, social media, and brand strategy to her current role advocating for salary transparency and flexible working conditions. Her journey, marked by her advocacy on TikTok against unfair hiring practices, has made her a champion for creating better work environments. Lauren’s unique perspective as a freelancer, balancing work with personal commitments, adds a rich, authentic layer to every discussion.

https://www.tiktok.com/@spearmanlauren

https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenspearman/

Molly Johnson-Jones, at the helm of Flexa Careers, is transforming how companies and individuals approach flexible working. With a platform that empowers millions to find roles that fit their desired working environments, Molly’s insights on the future of work, DEI, and employer branding are indispensable for anyone looking to navigate or shape the modern workplace. Her frequent speaking engagements on these topics bring cutting-edge perspectives and actionable advice to the podcast.

https://www.tiktok.com/@mollyjohnsonjones

https://www.linkedin.com/in/molly-johnson-jones/

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