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Should You Rush the Hiring Process by Lying About Having Another Job Offer?  

Getting a job nowadays is no easy feat. The tide seems to be turning in favor of employers, despite the reported post-Covid worker shortages. Many job seekers are in the same boat you’re in if you’ve been searching for a job for many months with no success.

As a struggling single person or family breadwinner, you may get the urge to use unorthodox practices to get ahead. The concept of lying about having another job offer might come to mind at some point in your journey. This piece will discuss the tactic and whether you should use it to snag a job.

Why Are So Many People Waiting a Long Time for a Job Offer?

Many news reports claim that employers still have trouble finding workers because of The Great Resignation and post-covid reservations. However, a tremendous number of workers are finding it difficult to secure jobs during this time.

Even workers with college degrees, years of experience, and positive track records find themselves completing job searches and having unsuccessful interviews for months. Why is that?

Employers are much more apprehensive about hiring workers now for several reasons. For one, they realize that most other employers bumped up their starting pay rates to entice workers to return to the workforce.

While raising rates was an effective tactic, it also gave workers more options than they had before. Thus, many employers are concerned about job-hopping and losing money they have to invest in onboarding and training new workers.

Many employers are also still suffering from the pandemic’s aftermath. Thus, some have current hiring freezes and budget cutbacks, even though they have job ads in the papers and job search sites. Such employers collect lists for future hires but have no intention of onboarding anyone at this time.

In some cases, they are holding out for the Great Worker Desperation, when qualified applicants will again accept lower wages and minimal benefits. All’s fair in love and business.

What do these things mean for you as a prospective employee, though? Is lying to get a job ever a good idea? Let’s see.

Read More: Top Candidate but No Job Offer? The 9 Reasons Why You Didn’t Get Hired

Lying About Having Another Job Offer Is an Integrity Issue

The biggest problem with lying about having another job offer is that it’s an integrity issue and a manipulative tactic. Thus, if you choose to go this particular route, you’ll be choosing to start the relationship with your new employer on a sour note. You’ll imply that you’re okay with dishonesty and trickery, even if you’re not.

Additionally, they may never trust you if they find out you lied about a job offer to get your foot in the door. They’ll wonder what else you will lie about or who else’s toes you will step on to get ahead. This perspective will be bad for your career unless you deal with a shady company that appreciates dishonesty.

The second problem with lying about having another job offer is that it could backfire in your face if you don’t have one. Employers are already skeptical about hiring workers because of the above-mentioned reasons. By telling the interviewer you have another offer email, you might push them to stop considering you for employment.

Remember that over 100 other people are likely to apply for the job you want. Therefore, the employer might be inclined to take the path of least resistance and hire a worker they don’t have to compete for. Thus, it might not even be wise for you to tell a prospective employer about an actual second job offer during these challenging times.

Read More: How To Tell A Company You Have Another Offer (With Examples)

Does Lying About Having Another Job Offer Work?

Lying about having another job offer could work if you’re dead set on being dishonest. It could give the prospective employer a little push to make a decision faster. Sometimes, it can cause the employer to offer more pay or benefits if they feel you are a valuable candidate. However, it could also leave you with nothing. The same rings true about lying about a job offer to get a raise.

Should You Lie To a Prospective Employer?

Many people tweak their resumes to appeal to prospective employers. They place only relevant skills and experiences on them to catch the employers’ eyes.

There’s nothing inherently wrong with not mentioning an over-qualifying degree or an underwhelming and unrelated job you resigned from in fewer than 30 days. Those things will most likely not help your cause because they will add to the employer’s uneasiness about turnover. However, some people don’t even believe that tweaking is kosher.

Outright making up work experiences, skills, and imaginary competitive job offers is a different issue. It’s a matter of tweaking versus fabricating, and it can land you in the unemployment line far longer than you want it to.

It’s always best to come to your prospective employer honestly and allow them to decide whether you’re the best candidate. Don’t tell them you have another job if you don’t, but be forthcoming if you do. Let them know the reason you want to leave your employer and explain that you will try your best to honor a two-week resignation. They will hire you and wait for you if they value you.

You can consider telling them about another job offer if there is one, but feel them out first to prevent losing an opportunity you desire. Try not to lie about having another job offer or any other part of the application process. That way, you’ll know that your prospective employer knows everything there is to know about you, and they have nothing to fear.

Read More: How Lying About Employment Dates On Resume Can Get You Into Trouble

How To Push an Employer for a Job Offer Without Lying

You can find more constructive ways to push an employer for a job offer without lying. These are some tips for doing so:

Express Your Interest

Nothing is quite as effective as expressing your interest in the position. Yes, the employer already knows you’re interested in the job if you applied, but you still need to let them know your level of interest. A lukewarm candidate is an unemployed candidate. Remember that, and don’t be shy about speaking up when you have the chance.

Do Your Follow Ups

You can follow up with the prospective employer after your interview to keep your name fresh in their minds. Hiring managers get busy with other tasks and can forget to send a job offer if they’re involved in other processes. It’s okay to send a short follow-up email to see where you stand because it might jar the manager’s memory and kick-start your onboarding.

Send Additional Proof of Experience

Additional correspondence might be the push the employer needs to make a decision. Hiring season is still open until you get an offer letter or rejection note. Thus, you should not be afraid to send videos, awards, certificates, or any other information that might set you far apart from the other applicants.

You now have some information about lying to your prospective employer and how it might affect the hiring process. Choose your actions wisely, and remember that you will get a job one day.

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About Author

Founder of Eggcellentwork.com. With over 20 years of experience in HR and various roles in corporate world, Jenny shares tips and advice to help professionals advance in their careers. Her blog is a go-to resource for anyone looking to improve their skills, land their dream job, or make a career change.

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