What harm would a white lie be if you write it on your CV? Does it matter if you do not write all the places where you have worked especially the ones where you received a disciplinary, failed your probation period, or did not stay long in your position.
The harm is a big one. Is it illegal to lie on your CV? Making changes like increasing your school or university grades or changing previous job titles may seem minor but it can be classed as ‘fraud by false representation’, which carries a maximum 10-year jail sentence. Also by lying and making yourself look better which results you obtaining the job and stopping someone else getting the position is wrong morally.
Changing dates where you have worked, lying about gaps in your work history again is illegal and your lies can be easily found out.
Do employers check what is written on CVs? Definitely as part of safer recruitment. GCSE, A Level and University grades can be checked as well as places of work checking start and end dates, positions held, any safeguarding or disciplinaries to name but a few. Three times I have put candidates forward for a job and have been told that the candidates are already working at that particular nursery. All of them lied on their CV saying that they had not worked there when in fact they had. Why did they omit mentioning they worked there? It was because they had not stayed long and did not want their CV to look bad. The candidates were mortified when I told them and faced difficult conversations with their employer.
What would happen if your lies are found out? If you have not yet started in your new job the offer could and most likely be revoked. If you have started in a job you would be invited in to a meeting and most likely the offer would be revoked/dismissed. Employers do not like liars and it will make them wonder what else you are lying about. The company will not give you a second chance and if you were placed into the job by a recruitment agency you will also be blacklisted by them.
Is it worth lying on your CV in order to get a job? No. Being caught out can cause embarrassing situations to losing out on jobs, to losing your job, to prison sentences and massive fines.