Would you tell a little white lie on your CV/Resume?

I am in a predicament... I am thinking about lying on my resume to get a job that I reeeeeeeally want.
The problem is, every time I go for jobs in this field, I am rejected because I live 1/2hr away... I used to work in my home town and drive to this other town 2-3 times a week for my job, but that doesn't seem to matter, a lot of the time employers would prefer someone who lived locally.
My sister lives in the town that I am wanting to get a job in, and we would actually like to move there eventually.
Do you think I should lie and put my sisters address on my resume?
Would you, or have you lied on your resume/CV? If you did, do you regret it? Do you think it helped you get the job?
Do you think this is being really deceptive?
I'd love to hear your answers :)
Lisa

Umm, not sure why they need to know where you live, couldn't you have a post office box and use your mailing address on your CV instead?

I honestly can say that in all the resumes I read, I've never registered the address. Who am I to worry about how long they have to drive to get to work, as long as they're there on time? Look, I think if you're not lying about experience or education, it's not a big deal. Anyway, who's to say you wouldn't move further away after you got the job?

OMG - YES!!!

I think I have exagerated on my CV for every job I have gone for!!! Really though, you know better then the employer if the job is do-able for you.

Some examples for me were - "Intermediate skills in Publisher" - ok, I had never used Publisher but I have intermediate skills in most other Microfoft packages so I put that I did. When I got the job we downloaded Publisher and I gave myself a crash course over a couple of days and I was fine.

When interviewers have asked for examples of certain things I have certainly exagerated! Well, they were things I would do if I really was in those circumstances...

I don't know about where you live, but on the GC and Brissy there is so much competition for jobs that you need to get noticed, employers have such a large choice that you will get over looked if you don't have exaclty what they ask.

So in conclusion, Yes! I would put your sisters address!

Thats a good idea put a post office box that way you're not lying you just have a PO Box near your sisters... I couldn't live with a lie, but then I'm weird.

I wouldn't lie but if I thought it was an issue I wouldn't include an address on my resume.
If you're at the interview on time then the interviewer will have to assume that you live close enough to work there.

I don't know what kind of job it is but TBH I won't hire someone if I suspect that they are being dishonest about any aspect of thier resume.


ETA - Then again we don't care where our crew are from - if they say they can get to work that's good enough for us.

Come to think of it, my resume doesn't have my address, just my telephone, mobile and email contact details.

I have left my address off before, and I got an interview... and I was asked where I live... so I did the right thing, and told them the truth, and I got hit with "Oh, is the travel going to be a hassle for you?"
Of course its not... I actually love the drive, and with my previous job, I was always there early... I guess some employers see it as perhaps being a hassle because they don't have to do the drive themselves... my previous employer did have to do the drive (I worked as a sales consultant/hostess for the building of new homes) and understood that it wasn't an issue.
I guess part of it is that they are smaller type towns, and people do often ask where you live - My DH has been asked at every interview he has been to for jobs in this town also.

It's really none of their business where you live, unless the job is locality specific (such as real estate maybe), even then I would still question why they would want to know. 30 mins isn't far anyway, sheesh every job I've been for is at least 30 mins away (as I use public transport).

I wouldn't lie. I would feel too guilty about it, what if you had to be asked your address in interview process and stuffed it up. Dunno why they would ask that but ya never know LOL

Love

LOL same as you Cai, I just can't do it! But the PO Box is a good idea or leaving it off altogether.

While I would say that, in my experience, an address might not be of a lot of consequence in your resume, I would say it's a different story if you lied in an interview though, Lisa.

most people stretch the truth or lie on their cv. You could always use your sisters address and if you get the job you could tell them that you moved shortly after.

Its not good that you could miss out on a job cos you live half an hour away, its silly really....

Good luck

I wouldn't lie.
At some point, it will come out where you actually live. For example... they could notice that your phone number is not a "local" number... and that may raise suspicion. Sure you could put a mobile only... but employers might not like a mobile only contact.

If you were to put your sister address... then you would have to lie on your Tax File Number Declaration form... which wouldn't match with ATO records. Or you might have to tell them why you are late one day (traffic accident) or something like that. And it will come out. And then you will be viewed as someone who can't be trusted.

It seems like a really small thing... but you just never know.

You could leave your address off all together.. if you think that your address is really a hinderence.
If they ask you at an interview - then you can show that you have travelled that distance before and you have no problem with it. And that you also have intentions of moving into the area too. If you're the right person for the job then 1/2 an hour is really nothing. Gosh.. I've had a staff member for 7 years that takes public transport to work for over an hour each way. And many people in Melbourne travel for more then an hour in car & PT to get to work. I realise it must be different in the area you live in. But you should sell yourself in all the other areas. Show how keen you are for the job, how suitable you are for it. The travelling does not affect your capacity to do the job.

good luck with it.

Hmmm I agree with Jodie's suggestion. I have lied before on my CV though, mine was education based, no one wants to hire a girl with a completion year of 8 even if they are at uni level when given a school placement test. I think your lie is much whiter than mine :)

the only contact information I have on my resume is my email & mobile phone - they don't need to know where you live - personally it is none of their business

Hi Lisa,

My CV has little white lies all over it :lol: Sorry! I agree with the other ladies, leave your address off altogether as it's irrelevant anyway, and if/when they ask you where you live say that you're moving to the town your sister is in pending you get the job!! :D That'll show them that you're really keen!! :lol:

Good Luck Lisa!

I would be honest if they ask you. It goes against my personal ethics to lie (even though I'm far from perfect and have lied in the past). But the suggestion to put a po box or just put email/phone as contact is a good one, I think.

Thanks so much to everyone for your replies.
I am going to leave the address off for the next job I apply for... I guess it is just a small town thing, but almost every person I have spoken with has been asked where the live in an interview... and unfortunately, most of the small towns prefer to give the jobs to people who are locals... keep it in the town and all that.
Thanks again for all your advice.

Lisa I think that's the best thing to do, to leave the address off altogether. At the interview, if you get the chance, I would then pre-empt the question by stating where you live and that you have previously worked in that town and enjoyed the drive and was never once late. If you come across as really enthusiastic about it, then surely they won't see it as a bad thing. And that way you are not going to come across as defensive about it if they ask the question. Get in first and put a really positive spin on it. Ideally they might ask you if you had any trouble getting there or something, so then you could use that as your cue. Best of luck with it.

Your address is ok to fib about - because you could be living there....but, when it comes to lying about working somewhere or upping the ante on the duties that you actually performed - that can get you into some trouble. I couldn't lie about experience, especially if it hinged on you getting a job - but address-wise, I don't think it's an issue.