Let’s set the stage with a classic tune. Cue in ‘Smooth Criminal’ by Michael Jackson, because we’re about to unravel the mysteries of exaggerated skills on resumes.
It can be tempting to change the truth regarding your resume, especially as a creative.
But as attractive as it can be, it is essential to consider if the risk outweighs any potential benefits. It’s time to uncover whether faking it leads to making it in the
creative world.
"Suppose I ever exaggerated a skill on my resume. In that case, I’d take that exaggeration into the job and straight into my grave because admitting it during the interview would be shooting myself in the foot and demonstrating my lack of professionalism and trustworthiness.
However, I do believe in faking it till you make it. In the past, I’ve included skills that I had but needed to improve on to give me an edge during an interview. And before the interview, I would read up on the other parts of that skill I was missing to bulk up my knowledge. So long as you’re willing to learn, practice and improve. Interviewers are also looking for the spark in your eye that says, ‘You know your stuff, but you want to be even better at it’; so it’s never a bad thing. And please, be super confident, or you won’t be faking it well enough. inserts wink"
"I've not necessarily added exaggerated skills, but I've played with words to emphasize stuff. E.g. In Real Life: I posted a video I randomly edited that got me a couple of social media likes and follows.
On CV: I creatively directed and scripted the creative flow of educational content that brought about an increase in engagement and follower-ship"
"Honestly, I'm still a student and don't have a resume yet. The closest I've been to exaggerating something I don't have is in my business.
I'm a student entrepreneur, and I drop ship most of the time because I need more capital to get all my goods/products down. There was a specific time a customer wanted to get a product from me( a ring light, to be precise), but I didn't have it down with me. Now the customer was the type that always loved to see the state of the item before buying; I had to convince the person that the quality was excellent even though I was secretly praying that my supplier wouldn't fuck me up cos all this bragging and assurance can't be in vain.
Basically, I just had to put myself as delivering the best, and eventually, I sold it, and the customer came back to give me an excellent review "
"Yes, I have. I was applying for an HR job; I added swimming to my resume as part of the skills (I can't swim, though). It wasn't necessary. Next thing, the interviewer said, "Wow, I see you can swim. The company usually partakes in competitions with other partners, so I hope you're good enough to represent the company?" there and then, I knew only the truth could set me free, because if not, I may die in that pool, a very shameful death."
"Yes, I have. I was applying for an HR job; I added swimming to my resume as part of the skills (I can't swim, though). It wasn't necessary. Next thing, the interviewer said, "Wow, I see you can swim. The company usually partakes in competitions with other partners, so I hope you're good enough to represent the company?" there and then, I knew only the truth could set me free, because if not, I may die in that pool, a very shameful death."
Conclusion
Remember, dear creatives, honesty and authenticity are the cornerstones of a successful career. While it may be tempting to embellish your skills and experiences on your resume to make yourself more marketable to potential employers, the risks of
getting caught and damaging your reputation far outweigh any possible gains.
Let’s take action by showcasing our genuine talents and continuously improving our skills.
Have you ever encountered exaggerated skills on a resume? We’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
PS. If you would like to contribute as a respondent in the future episodes of the Creative Gist, send us an email to [email protected] or reach us via WhatsApp +2348088809311
