How to Embellish Your Résumé Without Lying

One thing that I think that most of us can agree on is the fact that, many times, a sales pitch tends to stretch the truth -- for example; A stain remover can't really make a stain go away like magic, and there certainly isn't a lipstick out that won't smear upon wiping.

But stretching the truth on your résumé, even though it is the equivalent of a sales pitch promoting you, is never acceptable. You can try to pull a fast one but one must realize that these little "white lies" do eventually catch up to you.

So how can you enhance your résumé without going overboard? Try some of these tricks:

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Avoid those gross exaggerations.
   
   Most hiring managers and recruitment professionals have had their share of résumés pass across their desks during their career. So they are usually adept at deciphering embellishments in a résumé. They know that spending the last 10 years as a "domestic engineer" means you simply were home with your kids. And don't dare go calling yourself "vice president of administration." when you were only an administrative assistant.

2. Focus on quantifiable accomplishments.
   
   It's always good to use specifics when detailing your past accomplishments. If you assisted with projects be sure to give detailed account of what the name of the project was i.e naming the company newsletter, giving the name of the city and location if you were required you to travel during your involvement in a project.
   
   Always give specific detailed information such as numercial amount of money you saved the company, the number of employees you managed, etc. Rather than saying you saved the company millions, state precisely that you "saved the company $2.4 million." Actual numbers and percentages sound much more credible.

3. Always Address gaps in your résumé.
   
   Instead of fudging the dates of your past jobs to cover an employment gap, address the lapse in your résumé or cover letter to maintain chronological clarity. For instance, if you were out of work for a year during which time you took courses to enhance your education or professional credentials, list this academic stint on your résumé, rather than pretending the period of unemployment never happened.

4. Under no circumstances should half-finished degrees be listed.
   
   If you "almost" completed your degree, you cannot list it as an earned degree on your résumé. However, no education is ever wasted nor does it go unnoticed. Be sure to give yourself credit and list any completed coursework in a particular major or concentration.
   
   Remember honesty is always the best policy, even when writing a resume to apply for a job. In order to get the best. You must always work hard at being the best.
   
   Good luck!

Tips & Warnings

• Keywords can always help your stand out as well as they help your résumé get flagged if you're submitting it electronically or posting it on a job site.