Honesty may be admirable, but it’s difficult to attain
It’s always best to be honest as opposed to… well, the alternative.
As an older job seeker, honesty is not only the best policy, it’s sure-fire requirement. And we’re not talking about fudging on your age to get into a bar when under 21. We talking about presenting yourself in forthright manner when you’re interacting with potential employers – and the many contacts with whom you should be encountering along the way.
First and foremost, employers demand honesty. Can you blame them? They are about to invest a lot of money in you and they want to be certain that they are getting what they’re paying for.
Being honest on your resume should be a no brainer. While there are ways to downplay your age on your resume, in the end, you can’t hide it. Nor should you.
The real honesty challenge comes when candidates are trying to sell themselves.
No doubt that, sometime in your career, you’ve encountered those individuals who can’t say enough good things about themselves. “I was the best (this),” or “I was number one (at that),” or “That was my idea,” or “That happened because of me.” And, realistically, no one is being fooled. Most people can recognize BS when they see or hear it.
Unfortunately, there is another side of honesty that can be just as damaging. Many people are self-conscious about blowing their own horns. They somehow feel that it is inappropriate to call attention to themselves, that somehow they are being disingenuous.
Stop that! There is a happy medium. And believe it or not, it is difficult to be honest with and about yourself. According to Psychology Today, people have a hard time being honest about themselves out of fear of damaging our reputations or losing trust among others.
When you’re attempting to sell yourself in a job situation, honesty is not only the best policy, it could be the fastest way to landing your next job.