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Well, everyone tells their interpretation of the facts in a way that puts them in the best light. For example, in 2003, I was fresh out of college and the job

Well, everyone tells their interpretation of the facts in a way that puts them in the best light. For example, in 2003, I was fresh out of college and the job market was slow. I applied at a retail store so I could have some beer money. I was honest that I was looking for a job in tech and that I wasn't going to stay forever. Then I said I'd probably be there for 3-4 months. I was there for 2 weeks, and I don't list the job on my resume. Was I telling the truth when I said 3-4 months? I certainly gave them the longer end of the estimate in my head. Was I telling the truth when I left the retail job off of my resume?

roguecoder 2y ago
Leaving short-duration jobs off is common practice. The only way it might be "lying" is if you happened to, I dunno, have joined SVB just in time to commit a bunch of fraud, and then hoped no one googles your name. And even then, if it was three weeks, when your conviction comes up in the google search no one is going to think you lied leaving it off. Similarly, it is typical that people will have a polite fiction for "why did you leave your last role?" that hints in the direction of the real reason without saying anything the company wouldn't want to be said publicly. That question is a test of your discretion as much as it is making sure the same reason doesn't apply to the new company. However, saying you have a degree you don't, worked on a project you didn't, implemented something you didn't, led a project you only participated in, or used a technology you didn't: those are lies. Even if you get away with it, you are setting yourself up for a role you are unqualified to have. If you get caught, you will be correctly fired.