The Best Job Seeker Policy

Nothing beats being consistently honest throughout your job search

It may sound like a tired, old phrase. To some it may even seem out-of-date, cliche or obsolete. But make no mistake, honesty is, was, and always will be the best policy – especially in a job search.

It starts with you

First and foremost, be honest with yourself. Don’t inflate your ego. Don’t try to be something you’re not. Make a true and honest assessment of your skills and capabilities as well as what you’re looking for – and what you expect – in your job search. Aside from the obvious, being honest with yourself will save you a lot of time and effort pursuing jobs that either you’re not qualified or suited for, or that you really do not have a passion for.

In a real world sense, a good place to be brutally honest is on your resume. How many times have you heard about someone getting caught in an outright lie, if not an elaboration on their resumes? In an age where hiring managers are looking for ways to eliminate you, don’t hand them one on a silver platter. Make your resume clear, precise and squeaky clean.

Of course the job interview demands honesty from start to finish. Yet the interview is often an area that trips people up. And HR types can recognize this. One HR manager said that lack of eye contact during an interview is her #1 red flag.

In addition, be transparent. Don’t make things up. If you don’t know the answer to a question, admit it. Being forthright with an interviewer can go a long way on the upside while avoiding a downfall. If there is a good reason for not knowing an answer, be certain to point that out.

Think about it. If you land a job under false pretenses, the truth will out. Very quickly you’ll be exposed for what you are… or aren’t.

“No man has a good enough memory to be a successful liar.” – Abraham Lincoln

More tips.