Lying on job applications

[Russ]

With news that Maxine Carr is in court for amongst other things, lying on a job application, is anyone else surprised that this is illegal? Of course, I can see how it would be morally wrong, but breaking the law? Let's face it, there are far worse things you could to than being 'creative' on a CV. I certainly would not lie on a job application now but the past might have been a different story.....

I understand that if someone applied for a job which called for specific professional qualifications (solicitor, the medical service, teaching etc) then of course honesty in that field would be essential. Imagine if you'd studied for 5 years in uni only for your job to go to someone who dropped out after a year but claimed they graduated? Plus how safe would the clients/third party be with someone who was not properly qualified?

However for general, everyday jobs such as sales, (some) callcentre work, office positions etc is it really bad enough to be a punishable offence? As long as someone can do the job, should it matter? With the government eager to get as many people off the unemployment list and in to work, should they really be worrying so much about this?

Perhaps employers set their standards at an unreasonably high level? Naturally they want the best people for the job but is the presence of qualifications the best indication of that? They have interviews to find this out but would people without qualifications get as far as the interview?

[Jerrek]

It is the employer's own stupidity if he can't be bothered to check up on potential employees.

And no, lying on a resume should not be illegal. I see nothing in that to warrant a criminal record. I wouldn't do it myself, but I don't believe in thought police.

[Nugget]

Is there anybody who doesn't 'fit' their CV to the job they're applying for?

[peachey]

people tend to believe things that are printed out smartly on word documents
and good quality paper and bindings

it looks nice and snappy


the fact that it's all lies doesn't seem to come into the equation

[MovedGoalPosts]

As alluded to by Russ, if you are asked a specific question regarding qualifications and you make something up it has to be wrong. In the simplest of terms it probably falls into a category of deception, especially if proven that you had intent to deceive.

Yes everybody embellishes their experience on CVs or forms to try to suit the application. In most cases ppl will go for brevity and all encompassing wordings to try and cover their range of experience rather than being too pricise and thus limiting. However, just as estate agents are criticised for misdescription of property, the CV is effectively your advert, so why should it be reasonable to missell yourself?

[Graham F]

To be honest they are trying everything to keep her in Jail for as long as possible so it comes as no suprise IMO

Originally Posted by Jerrek

And no, lying on a resume should not be illegal. I see nothing in that to warrant a criminal record. I wouldn't do it myself, but I don't believe in thought police.

why not? you would be getting something under false pretences

Originally Posted by Nugget

Is there anybody who doesn't 'fit' their CV to the job they're applying for?

yes htats what you should do but "TRUTHFULLY"

Originally Posted by Russ D

Imagine if you'd studied for 5 years in uni only for your job to go to someone who dropped out after a year but claimed they graduated?

i know someone who did this, and got the job. Pi$$es me off, but it does mean that he will habe to do it on every application form from now on

[Steve H]

It defiently doesnt deserve a jail sentence.. Maybe just some kind of record to say that you'd lied before or something?

Dont see how this would work though, because they'd probably then just lie about the record about lying !

[Jerrek]

Originally Posted by gary_580

why not? you would be getting something under false pretences

So, saying you're 17 when you're 18 in order to get a discount warrants a jail sentence too right? And a criminal record.

Please, sir, wise up.

[Matuka]

Its fraud.

obtaining under false pretenses.
fibbing.

[MovedGoalPosts]

There seems to be an impression here that taking someone to court means a jail sentence. I don't see where that has come from. Our media is full of instances where a conviction does not equal jail, even though in theory the option to imprison is there, but the court decides to sentence a fine, community service or some other pants measure contrary to public expectation.

OK previous convictions, Like Maxine Carr's and multiple offences might increase the risk of jail, but for most people, in this day and age, deception, depending on the extent of the personal gain (advantage) you achieved is likely only to result in a "slap on the wrist"

[Jerrek]

Originally Posted by Matuka

Its fraud.

obtaining under false pretenses.
fibbing.

Fraud, in the legal sense you're using it, is "intentional perversion of truth in order to induce another to part with something of value or to surrender a legal right"

Fraud, in the traditional sense, is synonymous to lying. Lying is not illegal and should not be illegal. This is a form of thought police and the government trying to legislate morality. If the government is there to legislate morality, lets start looking at divorce laws, abortion laws, and so on.

[Matuka]

However, when you lie at a job interview, you are tricking an employer into paying you to do a job that you do not meet the requirements off.

You lie to get some money.

This is the basis of fraud.

"intentional perversion of truth in order to induce another to part with something of value or to surrender a legal right

IMO this is met when you lie on a CV etc at a job interview.

Why should lying here be any different to lying to the police etc?
Its even worse when you lie in writing as it cannot be taken as a slip of the tongue.

Suppose I was to lie in a job interview that I was an experienced & qualified surgeon, then I was to get a job based on this & because of my incompetence & inexperience at surgery cause the death of a patient.

Do you not think that this would be wrong?
Or do you Canadians have a different moral sense than the rest of us?