Foo - Are You a Good Liar? I need Your Help!

Here's the deal, I recently got really, really mad and fed up with the full-time job I'd been working the past 4-5 years, and just up and quit one day like I was a 16 year old. Yeah, I know that sucks but I was having problems with a coworker who was also my superior and was also a favorite of the management and blah blah blah boring story but now I've got this inordinately large hole in my resume' and I really would rather they not call those people because I know they won't have anything good to say about me due to the politics.


What would you do? Specifically resume'-wise?


If I just put down that I've been mowing lawns the last few years, despite having like zero-tan, would anyone believe me?


Don't turn this into an idiotic lesson in ethics-thread, please, I just want to cover my ass.

Don't lie, it isn't worth it. Try being honest and just say that you had to leave the job due to personnel problems and as such you don't have a reference.

I would own up to the gap and explain that you voluntarily left your last job. Sometimes people don't get along, and anyone interviewing you knows that. It's OK to fess up.

It's a resume, no reason not to be truthful, nor should you list a reason for leaving.

If asked why you left in an interview, just tell them that your supervisor had a personal problem with you that was impacting your career advancement opportunities to the point where you finally had to resign. Because of this, you prefer that this employer not be contacted.

Truth is easy...lies come back to bite you in the ass.

It's a resume, no reason not to be truthful, nor should you list a reason for leaving.

If asked why you left in an interview, just tell them that your supervisor had a personal problem with you that was impacting your career advancement opportunities to the point where you finally had to resign. Because of this, you prefer that this employer not be contacted.

Truth is easy...lies come back to bite you in the ass.
This.

I certainly wouldn't say you acted like a 16 year old. That wouldn't be good, but telling them there were issues that were keeping you from advancing is acceptable.

Jobs need to be matched to the person and vice versa. The previous job was not a good match for the reasons you mentioned. That's a legit reason for leaving and it's OK to do something that doesn't make it look like your life is on rails. You want to avoid working for people who can't understand that.

I wouldn't lie. People usually figure things out anyway, and that will hurt you.

list the job, but put me as a reference. I'll get you taken care of ;)

Agreed. Any tenure beyond 3 years shows you are a "stick to it" kind of person. If you're not happy beyond that time, quitting is a reasonable approach. Make it into a positive for your interview: "I'm looking for my next 5 year assignment." or "I'm a loyal guy and believe in putting in enough time to know what I want." Hiring managers like me understand this for sure. And besides, you never want a gap > 6 months on a resume unless you're just out of school.

Agreed. Any tenure beyond 3 years shows you are a "stick to it" kind of person. If you're not happy beyond that time, quitting is a reasonable approach. Make it into a positive for your interview: "I'm looking for my next 5 year assignment." or "I'm a loyal guy and believe in putting in enough time to know what I want." Hiring managers like me understand this for sure. And besides, you never want a gap > 6 months on a resume unless you're just out of school.

Agreed. I am also a hiring manager, although way up the food chain. In this economy I might believe a gap of 6 or 8 months depending on your qualifications, but more than that and you would need a good reason to have a gap. Also, I loose people for the same reason that you are describing reguarly, and hire people like you as well. As long as there isn't a pattern of this type of thing I never give it a second thought. Also, depending on the company, most of the big ones require senior managers or HR to discuss prior employees. You know how much we really know about the worker bees. You are probably safe even if they did call.

Use all of your Bf Posts as a reference..

I'm not sure what the laws are in your state....but when I was in Florida I had "heard" (honestly not sure) that a former employer is legally only allowed to verify your employment and employment dates. They aren't allowed to give "opinion" on you - by law. If that's the case in your state, then no worries, don't list them as reference.

Yeah, no need to lie. Stuff happens.

I agree with what Chip says.

And what KT says about job verification is the same here in Cali. They cannot tell a perspective employer anything other than that you worked there, for how long and how much they paid you.

And what KT says about job verification is the same here in Cali. They cannot tell a perspective employer anything other than that you worked there, for how long and how much they paid you.

Same basic law in NY, except we can also give job titles/experience/duties. Now the real question: Do you really believe that everyone follows those laws? Because if you do...

Case in point, I terminated an employee for stealing. He applied for another job, and their HR department called me and asked all the legal questions, then the obvious illegal one. I declined to answer why he was terminated. So then the woman off handedly asks: How busy are you guys over there? My answer would tell her all she needed to know. If I said very, then he was terminated for cause. If I said not so much, he might have been RIF'd.