Be Honest in Job Interviews

There is a difference between telling a story highlighting the positive to make you sound

better and lying to the interviewer. It is rare for a company to not conduct reference

check these days so don’t say anything that can not be verified by your boss or other

references that you provide.

There are many ways to get into trouble during an interview and lying is the most severe.

Common fibs that are told include educational degrees that you do not hold, saying that

you are a manager when you are a team lead and 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 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, but put yourself in the best light.

Maybe you were a part of the project, instead, 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.

This does not mean that you have to share anything that doesn’t put you in a positive

position though. 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.

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