What's the best way to lie on a resume in order to cover up a longer employment gap?
For context, I've been out of work for over two years now. First, I got laid off (which was effective immediately), then my dad had a medical emergency two weeks later and ended up passing away. Then my grandfather died four months later. Two months later, my spouse caught COVID from our kid, ended up going to the hospital multiple times over the next month, and was semi-bedbound for almost a year from long COVID. I was their caregiver during that time, and my spouse ended up more or less making a full recovery, thank fuck.
Since then, I've been looking for work for about a year, but it's been pretty awful sending so many resumes into a void, and I've effectively exhausted my network as well. I've also been ghosted after interviews so many times, including the most recent interview where I made it to the final round, so I am completely jokerfied at this point. There has also been the added pressure of my spouse losing their job a few months ago because of their dipshit toxic, transphobic boss. So we're both looking for work now.
This is also by far the worst market I can remember in my adult life (I'm early 30s).
I've tried to be upfront about the gap up to this point, but I think I am done being honest. I think the gap is fucking me over, especially in this market.
Anyone have experience with successfully lying to cover up an employment gap?
If it helps, I previously worked in one of those bullshit fields at a tech company for like 5 years. It's a type of work that can be freelanced as well. So I guess freelancing is an option to put on the resume. I've been trying to get back in this field, but have also found myself expanding my search in recent months because of the lack of success.
I've heard some people also just straight up make up positions at companies on their resume, but I've been hesitant to do that because I feel like that wouldn't pass a background check, no? I'm not sure how thorough the background check is for the average company.
I'd really appreciate any advice, thanks!
Acute_Engles [he/him, any] - 5day
Friend puts their name down as your supervisor reference and if they call to check the friend talks you up.
I'm really good at being the fake reference
17
10TH_OF_SEPTEMBER_CALL [any, any] - 5day
If you plan on not working, the trick is to register a business and call yourself the CEO. You don't need to do anything else.
Then LinkedIn sends you job offer to become the boss of mcKinsley
11
ashenone @lemmy.ml - 5day
In the past I've used caregiver for a sick family member as a reason for resume gaps.
11
Amnesigenic - 5day
Make up a job you were working for under NDA, use friends as references
6
CarbonConscious [he/him] - 5day
If it makes you feel any better, the stress of reading through this immediately resolved my constipation.
But in all seriousness, having been through a similar situation recently, hang in there. When you do eventually land something, you'll be amazed at how quickly that lingering cloud of worry clears up (only to be replaced by the normal getting-exploited cloud, natch).
Oh another good one is substitute teaching - depending on your state it can be pretty easy to get into, provide really flexible scheduling and decent pay, and is really easy just to say you've been doing that for the last however long. It's not exactly in your field but it's also one that is easy to say you've always had a passion for and just wanted to try it out and "give back" or whatever.
I've also found that interviewers in the tech field are pretty accepting of the narrative of, "Yeah after the company downsized, I decided to spend some time with the family and we did some traveling and visiting family, and I worked on some personal coding projects or w/e", basically implying that you were so well compensated at your last spot and you're so responsible with your personal finances that it was nbd for you to just coast on savings for a year or two.
5
The_hypnic_jerk [he/him] - 5day
You were freelancing in X field
3
AF_R [he/him] - 5day
Is the field something technical where you can get collect online certifications to resume-pad? If so, definitely suggest that.
Just be (partially) honest, say you had unexpected family medical emergency for a few months after the layoff and have been searching the whole time while doing some freelancing.
Is your background really a bullshit field or is that what terminally online people tell you to diminish the skills and labor you have spent years learning and practicing? Is this your attitude during interviews as well, or do you give off the vibe of a highly motivated and driven employee?
The market is shit, that is undeniable. As long as you’re navigating interviews while playing the game, saying the buzzwords and generic motivations, and you’re also a competent and skilled laborer, you’ll get the job. It’s just a matter of time, and that time freaking sucks. I’ve been there as well for 7 months, it seems like it will never end but it does, as long as you don’t give in to defeatism.
MF_BROOM in askchapo
What's the best way to lie on a resume in order to cover up a longer employment gap?
For context, I've been out of work for over two years now. First, I got laid off (which was effective immediately), then my dad had a medical emergency two weeks later and ended up passing away. Then my grandfather died four months later. Two months later, my spouse caught COVID from our kid, ended up going to the hospital multiple times over the next month, and was semi-bedbound for almost a year from long COVID. I was their caregiver during that time, and my spouse ended up more or less making a full recovery, thank fuck.
Since then, I've been looking for work for about a year, but it's been pretty awful sending so many resumes into a void, and I've effectively exhausted my network as well. I've also been ghosted after interviews so many times, including the most recent interview where I made it to the final round, so I am completely jokerfied at this point. There has also been the added pressure of my spouse losing their job a few months ago because of their dipshit toxic, transphobic boss. So we're both looking for work now.
This is also by far the worst market I can remember in my adult life (I'm early 30s).
I've tried to be upfront about the gap up to this point, but I think I am done being honest. I think the gap is fucking me over, especially in this market.
Anyone have experience with successfully lying to cover up an employment gap?
If it helps, I previously worked in one of those bullshit fields at a tech company for like 5 years. It's a type of work that can be freelanced as well. So I guess freelancing is an option to put on the resume. I've been trying to get back in this field, but have also found myself expanding my search in recent months because of the lack of success.
I've heard some people also just straight up make up positions at companies on their resume, but I've been hesitant to do that because I feel like that wouldn't pass a background check, no? I'm not sure how thorough the background check is for the average company.
I'd really appreciate any advice, thanks!
Friend puts their name down as your supervisor reference and if they call to check the friend talks you up.
I'm really good at being the fake reference
If you plan on not working, the trick is to register a business and call yourself the CEO. You don't need to do anything else.
Then LinkedIn sends you job offer to become the boss of mcKinsley
In the past I've used caregiver for a sick family member as a reason for resume gaps.
Make up a job you were working for under NDA, use friends as references
If it makes you feel any better, the stress of reading through this immediately resolved my constipation.
But in all seriousness, having been through a similar situation recently, hang in there. When you do eventually land something, you'll be amazed at how quickly that lingering cloud of worry clears up (only to be replaced by the normal getting-exploited cloud, natch).
Oh another good one is substitute teaching - depending on your state it can be pretty easy to get into, provide really flexible scheduling and decent pay, and is really easy just to say you've been doing that for the last however long. It's not exactly in your field but it's also one that is easy to say you've always had a passion for and just wanted to try it out and "give back" or whatever.
I've also found that interviewers in the tech field are pretty accepting of the narrative of, "Yeah after the company downsized, I decided to spend some time with the family and we did some traveling and visiting family, and I worked on some personal coding projects or w/e", basically implying that you were so well compensated at your last spot and you're so responsible with your personal finances that it was nbd for you to just coast on savings for a year or two.
You were freelancing in X field
Is the field something technical where you can get collect online certifications to resume-pad? If so, definitely suggest that.
Just be (partially) honest, say you had unexpected family medical emergency for a few months after the layoff and have been searching the whole time while doing some freelancing.
Is your background really a bullshit field or is that what terminally online people tell you to diminish the skills and labor you have spent years learning and practicing? Is this your attitude during interviews as well, or do you give off the vibe of a highly motivated and driven employee?
The market is shit, that is undeniable. As long as you’re navigating interviews while playing the game, saying the buzzwords and generic motivations, and you’re also a competent and skilled laborer, you’ll get the job. It’s just a matter of time, and that time freaking sucks. I’ve been there as well for 7 months, it seems like it will never end but it does, as long as you don’t give in to defeatism.