Be Honest in Job Interviews

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Yes, you want to showcase your unique talents and skills in the best light. However, you need to understant that there is a difference between highlighting the positive and fabricating a story to impress the interviewer. It is rare for a company not to conduct a reference check these days, so don’t say anything that can not be verified by your boss or other references.

There are many ways to get into trouble during an interview. Don’t increase your chances of screwing up by lying, which is considered the most grevious of errors.

It can be tempting to bolster your resume by including educational degrees that you do not hold, or saying that you are a manager when really you are a team lead. Some folks have even been caught taking credit for a project that was completed by a coworker.

All of these things can make you sound good at the time of the interview, but what if the interviewer talks to your boss about the stellar project you ran for the company when it really wasn’t you? Your boss is not going to lie for you and if you were in the running for the job, you won’t be anymore.

The best way to handle these scenarios is to tell the truth while putting yourself in the best light. For example, maybe you were a part of the project, although you didn’t lead it. Tell the interviewer the part you played and share the success of the project as a whole. An employee that can recognize and share in the success in others is preferable to one who doesn’t tell the truth or wants all of the credit for themselves.

Of course, this does not mean that you have to share anything that doesn’t put you in a positive position. The key is to be honest and only bring up examples that are going to highlight your talents and work history in the best possible way. Don’t claim or state anything that cannot be backed up by your references.