The key to landing your dream job might actually be to lie.
If you’re looking for a new job to kickstart the year, you’ll no doubt be thinking about what you should say in your interview to make sure you stand out from the rest. Interviews are nerve-wracking experiences – not many of us are comfortable bragging about our achievements and there can be a lot of pressure to make sure we give the right first impression to our potential employers.
But did you know there are some things in an interview you should actually lie about? According to a careers expert, telling white lies in response to specific questions can help you give answers that the interviewers want to hear. The lies you tell should not involve things like your experience in the field – you should never set out to deceive the interviewer – but small fibs about certain details can give you a competitive edge.
Iz, known online as the Corporate Agony Aunt, shared her tips in a video on TikTok. She said that you “absolutely should lie” about certain things in your interview, including how many other jobs you’re currently interviewing for, and even the reason for leaving your last place of work.
She said: “Number one, your reason for leaving. Even if it’s the most valid reason, if it’s negative, I don’t want to hear it. Keep it positive, keep it professional, keep it progressive.
“For example, ‘I’m looking to leave my current company because I think I’ve exhausted all of the development opportunities there. I’ve really enjoyed my time there, but I’m looking for a company like yours that is dynamic and can promote from within and help me reach my full potential’.”
Next, Iz said you should lie about how many offers or processes you’re in. She said that even if you’re interviewing for your “dream job”, you should never let your interviewer know if that is the only interview that you’re having.
Iz explained this can make the employer think you’re “desperate” for the job, whereas having them believe you’ve got other offers makes you seem like “top talent” that businesses want to fight for.
The expert went on to say you should also never tell your potential employer about any plans you might have to travel. She said: “It just tells me that you’re only getting this job so you can pay for that. Part of life is about doing what you want to do, but I don’t need to hear it, so don’t be so honest in that circumstance.”
Finally, Iz said you should “lie about setting up your own empire”. She added that she is the “biggest advocate for side hustles”, but she believes it is a bad thing to tell your interviewer that you’re working on your own business.
While it might seem like an impressive trait, it can make your potential employer think that you don’t have the motivation to work for the company because your goal is to have a successful business of your own.
Commenters on the video thanked Iz for her advice, with many saying they had lost out on job opportunities in the past by not following these steps and being too honest.
One person said: “Thanks for sharing your expertise and insights into employment,” another added: “This is very useful for me as I wouldve made a lot of these mistakes, especially the last one, thanks so much for the post.”
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