Definition of Padding Your Resume
November 10, 2008 by Darlene McDaniel
Filed under Jobs
Jason Monastra blogger from Lambenthpath suggested I define “Padding” in our discussion of Padding Your Resume. Here is a dictionary definition of the word “pad” – to expand or increase especially with needless, misleading, or fraudulent matter. By definition for our discussion, the word pad speaks to “needless, misleading or fraudulent” information. My definition of padding your resume would mean that you have added information to the resume that is inaccurate. I have heard from both my classmates and others that there are exceptions to this issue of padding the resume. I don’t see an exception. I believe that you can accurately represent your skills, abilities, education, and job titles without “creative enhancements.”
Let me be clear - Padding your resume by my definition is lying. Simple! If you didn’t do it, don’t say you did. if you don’t have the degree, don’t represent it on your resume you do. Use accurate titles for the job you did in the organization you previously worked. Anything that misrepresents what you really did, or what you really accomplished or your educational accomplishments is padding and padding equals lying. And lying means that you can not be trusted. The minute you are caught in a lie, you have lost ALL credibility. If you lose all credibility, you will find it difficult to be trusted with anything else, including a job.
What do you do if you have padded your resume and you are in the midst of a job search – with a pending job offer? Well, you get to decide. Do you live in the world of hoping they don’t find out and lose the job opportunity if they do? Or do you come clean with the hiring manager? I would recommend that you error on the side of coming clean rather than hoping they don’t find out. It is always better if you tell them there is inaccurate information on your resume than for them to find out after you have been extended an offer and now they are forced to pull it back. How can you communicate the inaccuracy? I would recommend that you replace the inaccurate resume with an accurate resume. Present the resume to the hiring manager as an updated resume. Apologize for the inaccurate information and allow them to ask questions. If the information that you provided on the inaccurate resume was what helped them make a hiring decision about you, you may be in trouble. Holding on to the job offer that was extended with misleading information will come back to bite you later. Get it straight and pray!
Tags: Padding your resume, Interview Chatter, Lambenthpath, Jason Monastra, Padding by definition, credibility, job search, inaccurate information, Lying, Skills, Abilities, Education, Resume
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Well, I will say that you got the last sentence dead on with “prayer”. Need to do that regardless.
Your definition of padding is how I view it…directly misleading for the purposes of gaining employment. Under no circumstances can this be beneficial as both the candidate and employer will be working under false expectations. The hammer will drop eventually, so be prepared.
We need to start a string on selling past the resume, as I think that is the intent that causes most people to begin the padding process.
Agree wholeheartedly! One little lie or exaggeration is enough to derail your candidacy or – after you’ve been hired – get you thrown out the door. Job seekers should use the resume as a list of career accomplishments and other highlights that are closely tied to the job description. Then, if you’re called in for an interview, be ready to expand on them, going a bit heavy on the anecdotes to support the points you make on your resume. That makes for an effective “sales” job.
Hi Jason and Rick!
Rick welcome to Interview Chatter! Please stop by any time.
To Jason – Prayer does help no matter the circumstances you find yourself. In these tough times where people are having difficulty finding jobs, padding a resume can put you in a tenuous position in the job market. I know there are people that will do anything to find a job. But this issue of padding shouldn’t be one of them.
Rick – Learning to sell yourself is somewhat of a lost art in the world we live in today. It probably wouldn’t hurt to write more about how to effectively sell your way into an organization. So many people are weak in this area. Lying is not a sales technique, though many employ this technique to get doors open for themselves in the job market. I like the way you recommend people set up their resume – a list of career accomplishments. That is a great way to look at it. You shouldn’t have to sugar coat your accomplishments. They are what they are. Be proud of them and be ready to expound on them when given an opportunity to sit with a hiring manager.