The Shocking Truth About Lying on Your Resume: One Gen Z's Wild Ride to Employment

A young Australian has openly admitted to lying on her resume to land a job, shedding light on a broader and cheeky trend among Gen Z workers.

When Scarlett Frazer was 18 and studying in Melbourne, she was eager to find a flexible job with decent pay. She heard that temp receptionist roles were ideal—low commitment and good earnings. But there was a catch: she had no experience.

"You know what it's like in Australia, everyone needs experience," Ms. Frazer shared. So, she got creative. She falsely claimed part-time receptionist experience on her resume and enlisted a family friend to provide a fake reference. The temp agency bought it and offered her the job.

However, reality hit hard on her first day at a major law firm. With no training, she was expected to handle calls and tasks she knew nothing about. "I was feeling really overwhelmed," she confessed. She struggled, broke glasses while tidying, and had to constantly ask a senior receptionist for help.

Luckily, that senior colleague, an experienced woman in her 50s, stepped in. She patiently trained Ms. Frazer, and they bonded throughout the day. This act of kindness not only saved the day but also led to a glowing review from the temp agency. Ms. Frazer ended up working as a receptionist for months.

Now 25, she reflects that lying isn't the right approach, but it did open doors. "In hindsight, lying isn't the right way to go, but it did work out for the best," she admitted. She argues that the pressure for experience makes it tough for young job seekers and sometimes, you have to "fake it until you make it."

Recruitment expert Roxanne Calder weighs in, noting that resume lying is more common than people think. While the chances of getting caught might be low, the consequences are severe, including being black-listed. She emphasizes that while everyone embellishes, outright lies are unacceptable.

Ms. Calder also highlights a new trend: Gen Z using ChatGPT for resumes and accidentally lying due to not checking the AI's output. "They haven't even bothered to read the resume. It floors me," she said.

This story underscores the risks and realities of job hunting in today's competitive market.