Your application needs to convey the truth. That doesn’t mean you should state every truth. It means you should be honest and refrain from exaggeration. Only claim what you can reasonably defend.

On the one hand, overstatements eventually backfire. If you claim proficiency in a language, for instance, be prepared for an interview held in that language. Take your fair share of responsibility for results, neither less nor more. The argument for truth is that it always holds up under scrutiny. Resume screeners conduct thorough background checks, and interviewers will ask probing questions until they are completely reassured. Beware that any fault they suspect will count against your credibility.

On the other hand, understatement makes you look bland. When someone is reading through a pile of CVs, what impression will yours leave? If you are too modest in your claims, most likely your case will be forgotten. Bear in mind that all CVs are permeated by an optimism bias. Claims tend to err on the side of boldness, inflating the evaluation standards.

The art lies in finding a grounded confidence level. From there you avoid both the risky overstatement and the doomed understatement areas. To assess where you stand, do the following test: if your resume was displayed on the front page of the Financial Times, would you be comfortable defending it? If you have any doubts where to draw the line, ask a colleague or confidant to rate the credibility of your resume. Not only that, ask if it captures your unique traits and experiences as well. Purporting to be someone you are not is a waste of the person you are.

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Inside Consulting