Honesty is the best policy

We have all done it right? Exaggerated the skills or responsibilities areas of our CV, given yourself a slight pay rise, added a few hobbies that we haven’t tried for 10 years, or even said you’ve graduated when you didn’t quite make it? According to a recent Business Matters article, one in six of us have lied on our CV, so you’re not alone.

And throughout my recruiting career I have noticed that these little white lies don’t just stop at the CV, a lot of candidates will ‘exaggerate’ certain aspects throughout the recruitment process. The most common of these is the salary white lie; a recruiter contacts you about a job and asks for your current salary, you reply with an answer larger than reality. I know it doesn’t seem like a big deal at the time, but honesty is the best policy, especially if I am going to help you land your perfect job role.

Don’t get me wrong – we can empathise why people aren’t always fully honest with us and we know that candidates feel the only way to get the job they want or the salary they expect is by bending the truth a little. But it is far more beneficial to see your recruiter as a confidant and someone you can trust. By being open and honest about the role you are currently in and your aspirations for the future, they will be far better prepared to find you a role suited to your skills and requirements.

My job as a recruiter is to find you a role that fits your wants and needs as well as your skill set. But my job as a recruiter is also to make the client, your potential future employer, happy and place them a candidate that fits the brief and meets expectations. This means that I won’t place you in a role that isn’t right for you and by getting to know you honestly I will be able to make a judgement on what the best roles might be.  

I will also do my best to negotiate the best possible package on your behalf, which is why it pays to be honest about salaries and current benefit packages so I can, in many cases, make sure you get exactly what you want and deserve.

So when it comes to the recruitment process, honesty really is the best policy.