Can you lie on your resume about how long you worked somewhere?

No. Disregarding ethics, you can’t lie because companies confirm titles and employment dates then decline to hire people who were dishonest. They also fire people who lied on their resume, like former Yahoo CEO Scott Thompson.

Is it okay to lie a little on your resume?

Filling out a resume or applying for a certain position can be challenging if you have limited experience or job skills. Lying, however, is not a good way to fill in any gaps or to make up for a lack of experience, as it can lead to being disqualified or even let go from the position.

Can you get in trouble for lying on a resume?

Lying on a resume, cover letter, or job application isn’t technically illegal. These forms aren’t legal documents, so usually you can’t get prosecuted for lying on them. However, if you falsify documents that “back up” claims of educational history, for example, that could be grounds for trouble with the law.

Is it ever OK to lie in an interview?

“In my experience, there aren’t any instances where lying in an interview or resume is justified.” Out of the dozens of career experts I reached out to, common phrases included unequivocal ‘no,’never, and non-negotiable.

Is it illegal to lie on a job application?

If you are lying on an application for a state or federal employer, it could be considered a crime since it is illegal to lie to a federal or state government agent. In most cases, however, a lie on a resume that is discovered after the person is hired is grounds for termination.

What happens if you lie about where you went to college?

As Tony Li points out, there are background verification checks and reference checks. If you write something that’s a blatant lie, e.g. saying you went to Stanford when you never went there, you will get caught right away and won’t get the job. But even for more subtle things that an immediate check won’t catch, don’t do it.