Using a touch of artistic license on your CV might seem a good idea at the time. One minute you’re ordering dos cervezas on your summer holiday, next thing you know you’re boasting about your fluency in Spanish to prospective employers. Ay caramba!
The fact is exaggerating your skills is a risky game to play, regardless of the nature of the job. However admin staff in particular can be found out rather quickly.
It’s never a good idea to claim to be an IT guru when you don’t know your Apples from you Blackberries!
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Let’s take a look at the top CV lies and why you should always tell the truth.
Job Title
A fortnight spent in work experience as a receptionist doesn’t make you an Executive Office Assistant. While not necessarily career damaging fibs – so long as you have the skills to back up your claims – over-egging previous job titles can be off-putting for employers who value honesty and transparency.
Education
Telling wee porky pies about your education is dodgy territory. Inventing a degree is quickly discovered, particularly if employers are keen to see certificates.
It’s a myth education is the be-all-and-end-all when it comes to getting your dream job, as there are many paths that can lead you there. So there’s actually no need to jeopardise your prospects by inflating your academic prowess.
Salary
Many people choose to list their previous salary on their CV as a way of setting a benchmark for what they expect in their new role. While it’s tempting to add on a few zeros, it’s best to be realistic.
If you have a salary expectation in mind, discuss this directly with your prospective employer face-to-face.
Skills
Pretending to have skills – everything from being fluent in a foreign language to a photographic memory of records – is never a good idea. Even if the skill isn’t a prerequisite for the admin job, the pretence can reveal itself anyway.
Keep your integrity intact and be honest about your skills.
Upselling yourself is okay, however, so do to emphasise your strong points, such as supersonic speed typing or a robust knowledge of office computer packages.
If you’re in the midst of revamping your honest-to-goodness CV to get that coveted admin role, we have a handy guide (https://www.s1jobs.com/blog/get-perfect-cv/). We also have the very latest Admin, Secretarial and PA vacancies across Scotland on s1jobs.