You know, some articles we tend to beat around the bush, especially when we think that you need a little more explanation and introduction than we might normally give. However, when it comes to the subject of embellishing your resume, we feel the need to jump right into things.

First and foremost, you really want to make sure that you have the most honest and straightforward resume possible. You have to step back and really think about what a resume really represents. It’s the key to the interview, not the key to the job. Now, this might be the temptation that pushes you into adding those little details that you think will never be checked, but there are a few problems with this approach.

To start with, you have to realize that those little details are going to be checked eventually. Yes, you might land the interview and you might even be able to give a good enough performance to get the job that you’ve been wanting. However, is it really worth it when you know that there will come a day where you will be given a task that you should be able to handle…and you can’t handle it?

Now, the natural reaction here is to swear up and down that this day will never come. You’re right — it’s possible that the day will never come. However, these days as companies start asking more and more of current personnel instead of hiring new people faster, you will have to do things that may or may not be in your normal job description. If you put down that you’re proficient in something that the company desperately needs, you could find yourself having to take care of business — even to the point where you’re the lead person on a project!

When it’s discovered that you lied about something, even something that seems minor to you, you are essentially putting a sign on your body that says that you are someone that is not trustworthy. Every business regardless of industry needs trustworthy people.

Instead of going down this road and facing all of these potential consequences, it’s better to look at your resume strategically. Throw out the need for embellishing your resume by thinking about all of the things that you really are good at. If the list doesn’t seem as long to you as it should be, don’t stress about it. There will be a company that is going to pick you up for the skills that you really have, rather than the skills that you think you should have.

Every organization knows that there is a level of training that is to be expected. They aren’t expecting you to be perfect — just honest. If there’s a layer of honesty there, then there’s a perfect foundation for life — which is exactly what you should be aiming for in the first place!