Estimated reading time: 14 minutes
Master the art of resume writing with our comprehensive guide. Learn how to highlight your accomplishments and land your dream job.
Writing The Best Resume
Writing a resume is just as intimidating for many people as creating a budget.
I know they are on two different spectrums, but that’s true.
I’ve heard people over the years cringe about having to write a resume and seeking support.
We were taught to write a basic resume when I was in school, as it’s an essential skill.
Although it takes time to master, it must be done and visited often throughout employment with any career you are in.
Failing to update your resume only makes the job harder when it comes time to apply for a new role.
Resume writing and interviews are huge topics that I hope to write more about in the future but this morning I read an article about what people lie about on their resume.
Lying On A Resume
I was not shocked at what I read because people lie every day just to become someone they are not or to bump someone else out of the employment race.
One of the most common lies we’ve all heard is that someone “quit” a job when, in fact, they were fired.
In the article about the ten most ridiculous things people lie about on their resume, someone said they had babysat for celebrities for 20 years, lol.
While this may be true, you can bet it would be looked into, so lying on your resume won’t help.
Another funny one is when someone says they have 20 years of experience doing a job when they are only 25.
I know it’s funny but it’s true, it happens. I wonder if people think before they talk or even read what they type in their resume.
Yes, human resource professionals WILL read your resume if your cover letter passes their overall assessment and you are a potential candidate.
Over the years, I’ve researched and built my resume based on my skills, experience, and education.
It’s incredible how many people search for a resume builder online to format a simple resume in a Word document or look for “buzz words” to make their resume POP. Just be you.
Proper resume format varies from business to business; not every manager or human resources professional has a standard format they will accept.
Hiring A Professional Resume Writer
If they do, they will tell you how to submit your resume, but making sure your resume format is clear and easy to read is essential.
Some people even pay a professional resume service to put their resume together for them.
It’s one of the most straightforward tasks, especially with all the free online resume resources.
The task is overwhelming for many people, so they put their career fate in the hands of someone who isn’t afraid to do it for them.
People are making a mint off of those who don’t want to take the time to create and learn how to build their resumes.
It reminds me of the credit card companies cashing in on the interest of those who don’t want to budget their money and put everything on credit.
Simple stuff here, and if you find you can’t do there is bound to be a mentor at your current organization or someone willing to help if you make a phone call.
A Resume Is An Employment Bible
Human resource professionals and management teams who sift through resumes or who have electronic systems look for resumes with cover letters that fulfill the needs of the job requirements.
If they seek specific qualifications and skills and aren’t present in your cover letter, don’t be shocked if your resume lands in the “no” pile.
These are professionals, after all, and they look at resumes all the time, so they know when you try to use filler words to fluff up your resume.
Just because you renovated a kitchen doesn’t make you a carpenter, either.
Training to be a red seal tradesman takes many years of experience and education, so take a step back and consider what you say on your resume.
What they might not know is if you are lying on your resume.
This can be tragic to the company and yourself if caught.
When you say on your resume and in an interview that you can do something and can’t, it can create many problems depending on the role you applied for.
For example, a nurse’s resume vs. a customer service resume or even an accountant’s resume all bring different skills to the table that are crucial to the success of the role and organization.
Build Experience On The Job
Mrs. CBB told me about a time she found out the accountant at her previous employer lied on her resume.
She was telling my wife that when she applied, she lied about knowing how to use ACPAC (An electronic payroll system) when, in fact, she had never used the program before.
She reasoned that she knew other payroll programs and figured she could learn that one as she went along.
When she told my wife this information, the accountant knew how to use the program, but the risks people would take to get their foot in the door were astonishing.
Getting Caught Lying On Your Resume
Sure, if it was found out that she lied on her resume, HR could have fired her for reporting false information.
However, it depends on the HR or hiring manager whether it was severe enough to let the person go.
You are taking a significant risk when you lie on your resume, especially if you are in the care of other human beings or the environment.
A company relies on the resume and your word during a job interview, and even though HR may do reference calls and some background research, they may not uncover deceit on a resume until after the job contract has been signed.
A lack of skills often becomes apparent when the employee fails to perform to the standards they say they could in an interview or on their resume.
With jobs being scarce these days, it’s no wonder people will go the extra length to jazz up their resumes and even use resume examples online to copy and paste into their resumes to make them look eye-catching.
If you are lying on your resume to get a job, you probably shouldn’t be applying for that job in the first place.
It would be best to return to school to get the education you need or find new ways to gain experience in the role you want to work in without saying you are qualified.
Discussion: Do you know someone who lied on their resume? What did they lie about?
CBB At Home And On The Blog
Home…
If you had read my blog posts this week, it would have been hard to miss the excitement in our July 2014 Budget Update when we announced we were expecting a baby.
I wasn’t sure how to go about telling all of you, but I thought since the budget was going to be affected by the birth of our child, it would be a great place to start.
I know we have only scratched the surface regarding the baby budget, but in time, we will have settled into a standardized routine where the budget will be somewhat stabilized.
My wife has been very ill this past week, as many of you who follow my Facebook page know.
The pregnancy has been complicated for her from the start, and we’ve been to Emergency at the hospital twice this past week.
The baby is doing fine, but my wife has some issues she is dealing with that come with pregnancy, which are being monitored.
Thank you all for your support and understanding throughout this.
Garden Update
I talked to my father-in-law about our basil and what could have gone wrong after it looked so beautiful.
Last week I mentioned how the basil had started to form brown leaves and I had to chop it all and make a basil pesto.
I found out it was likely my fault for watering the basil with the hose.
The water from the tap is much different from rainwater and has high amounts of calcium and fluoride, which can damage the plants, especially when you fire water at it right from the house.
I usually use a watering can, but I was in a rush one day when I used the hose.
My rain barrel was also empty, which is another good reason to have one in the garden.
He’s hooked us up with another basil plant for the rest of the summer.
Blog Update
You may notice that I did not blog my “PF Friday Grab a Brew” blog post yesterday.
I’ve cut that post since we have so many other things on the go in our house.
I’ve combined a few features of that post into this Saturday’s Weekly post, so you aren’t missing any fabulous sections.
Once I get sorted out again, I’ll open that post.
My blogging schedule will be Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday, but it will change depending on how things go with our baby.
Time will tell, but with Nicola and Katrina on board and all of our fans who support CBB, I’m hoping we can keep the blog going strong.
So much for thinking the blog was safe because it never is.
Even though layers of safety have been built in to protect the blog, spammers managed to crash my site the past week.
My hosting company went ahead and shut me down the other day because it was overwhelming the server.
After a long conversation over the phone and getting Grayson back on board, we sorted the issue out.
I’m happy to say I’ve got hardly any spam.
You may notice a captcha has been added when you leave a comment.
This is needed to protect the Canadian Budget Binder.
I’ve cringed many times when filling one out, but it’s needed; otherwise, there will be no blog.
I hope you continue to comment and read my blog posts.
The life of a blogger is never dull.
Weekly CBB Posts
If you missed any CBB posts from the week, here is the list of posts you can catch up on reading!
You will notice I’m only posting five days a week now on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday.
If you would like to guest post, please get in touch with me with ideas for your blog post.
- Why a root cellar is beneficial for stockpiling
- There’s a BUMP in our budget: July 2014 Budget Update
- A woman’s financial success leads to jealous friends
- Herbed sliced baked potatoes
Fan Deals
Submit your Brag or Inspiration If you have a brag that you want me to share, email me at canadianbudgetbinder (@) [yahoo] [.ca] or fill out my contact form by Friday each week to have your brag considered for the Saturday post.
This week, CBB fan Jen shares her fantastic score at RCSS PLUS.
Check out the PC Plus Points she earned on top of her savings to sweeten the deal!
Thanks, Jen, for sending this in and showing us how much we can save while grocery shopping.
Here is a deal from RCSS from earlier in the week:
- Bagels $1.99 – 50% pink sticker (-$1.00)
- Delissio pizza (PM SDM) 3 x $3.99
There are no coupons, but each pizza earned 500 in-store PC Optimum points and 2500 points each for a digital bonus offer.
I earned $3.00 worth of points on each pizza, making them equal to $.99 each 🙂
The bagels also earned 800 PC Optimum points.
- OOP $13.96
PC Optimum earned 9800 (worth $9.80). That’s awesome, Jen!!
Bloggers Making A Difference Series
If you know a personal finance blogger making a difference and want to nominate them, please email canadianbudgetbinder (@) yahoo.ca so I can reach out to them for a feature story.
Today, my good friend Kassandra, who blogs at More Than Just Money, is here to share her personal finance blog.
More Than Just Money
Hello/Bonjour to Mr. CBB and your readers!
My name is Kassandra, and I launched More Than Just Money to reflect that our lives are to be lived intentionally in all aspects, including financially.
Despite being a certified credit analyst and a self-employed business consultant, I have struggled with a large amount of consumer debt – $55K.
It took a long time for me to acknowledge that I was in a financial mess and begin to do something about it.
The good thing is that I learned to take control of my money and life, and you can, too.
In June 2009, I began to pay off my debt and initially calculated that I could be debt-free in five years.
My final debt payment was on December 21, 2012, and I have maintained my debt-freedom status to the present day.
Many of us are encouraged to walk a traditional road about how we should live our lives and spend our money
My experiences with debt, in many ways, profoundly changed my outlook on life.
Using More Than Just Money as my platform, I strive to spread the message that we should forge our path.
I aim to demonstrate to others that money is a tool to help them carve out a quality of life for their design.
Update 2024- This blogger has since retired from the blog.
Top Recipe
If you don’t know, I have a second Facebook page called The Free Recipe Depot, where I share recipes from other Foodie Bloggers worldwide.
Once a week, I pick one recipe submitted as my top recipe for the week.
Trust me when I say this is no easy task, as some foodies can cook up a storm.
This week, I picked a recipe from Baking in a Tornado because it jumped out at me while searching for a fork.
Does this Strawberry Lemonade Cheesecake not look delicious?
I know…. drool! If you are a lemonade lover, don’t forget to try Nicola’s homemade Lemonade recipe.
Editor’s Pick
Every week, I will pick a blog post of the week from around the web that I found interesting and want to share with you and an Editor’s top blog post pick.
Editor’s blog post pick of the week
This week, I read a post at Practical Cents about “How to Prepare for Home Renovations,” and because I’m in the middle of doing our bathroom renovations, many of the tips given are essential.
If you are house hunting, one thing we did was to make sure we thoroughly went through the houses that were on our yes list before putting in an offer.
If the price doesn’t reflect what you know, you must rip it out and replace it.
Then, think twice before offering a price on the house.
Ripping out a renovation gone bad can cost you big bucks, especially if the house’s original owner thinks it’s done right when it’s not.
Weekly Features
If you featured CBB and I missed you, it’s because I haven’t been made aware, but thank you kindly for thinking of CBB.
Shannon from The Heavy Purse shared our July 2014 Budget Update with congratulations on our baby on the way.
Thank you, Shannon, for sharing, as it’s certainly a time in our life that we wanted to share with the world.
Google Search Terms
Every week, thousands of people visit Canadian Budget Binder because they searched online and found my blog.
Remember any spelling errors below because I share how they typed their search engine query to land on my blog.
- Should BC parents homeschool because of strict teachers? : That’s up to the parent
- Scop is the law for every retailer- NO, the scanning code of practice is voluntary.
- I love you this way– Which way? hah
- My Ford vehicle keeps swallowing gas– Join the club…. gas prices are high everywhere.
- Pimping my car not on a strict budget- Wf you are not on a strict budget, you can pimp, but if you are, well, you might have to pimp as you.
Thanks for joining me for The Saturday Weekend Review #84 edition.
Join me again for more stories from around the web and at home!
Thanks Mr. CBB for the feature and support! AS for lying on a resume that is really a very big mistake to be making. The repercussions if you are found out can be severe as you mentioned. It’s better to admit in a cover letter that although you may not have direct experience with ABC, that your XYZ experiences are transferable skills and then show them how. The goal is to make your resume and cover letter stand out enough to land an interview – but do so honestly and with integrity.
You’re welcome and thanks for being a part of the feature. I don’t understand why people do that because it really does cause potential problems especially if one is fired. It can cause problems with getting unemployment not to mention loss of wages as well.
Congratulations again in the baby. It’s just super news, especially since I saw on twitter that this seemed like a long shot.
I worked with a guy a few years back that I’m sure lied on his resume. I don’t think he had a degree or any of the experience he said he did. He’d coasted along at an easy job for about 10 years and then that job went away and he had to take a more challenging position or not have one at all. That’s when the truth started to come out. I never went to HR, but some companies might do well to consider reassessing employees as they transfer spots – the same as you’d do a new hire. Might have kept him from wasting people’s time in the challenging spot.
Thank you so much for choosing my post as your editor’s pick for the week. I’m new to your blog but I’m looking forward to reading more. Congrats on the baby news. 😉
Regarding resumes, my hubby and I are currently working on updating ours. I had a family member pay someone to update her resume and she told me it was a total waste of time and money. The best thing to do is to take a look at it every year and update it. That way you don’t have to do it all at once when you’re obligated to do so.
Things have changed a lot since the last time I applied for something!!! Things are changing in the schools too as the younger boy had to take a course in career planning and resume writing in Grade 10. His older brother and sister didn’t have that but he did. I believe this was part of the curriculum changes the PC government brought in during the Harris Days. They did a complete re-write of the curriculum over a number of years from start to finish. As I had kids in the system then I got copies of the new documents as they were released from the government, free.
I’m sure there are some people out there that will lie to get a job. Everyone has heard the one about quitting, not being fired….. Or moving on the new challenges. Amounts to the same thing. If I worked in HR I’d be taking an awful lot of what I was told with a hefty grain of salt.
About the hose water hurting your basil, the chlorine in the water can do it as well. I water my spider plant inside with water that has been sitting for a while so the chlorine has time to clear out as spider plants don’t care for it. Gives them brown tips on the leaves. It’s good you have another plant!! Ours gets rain water the younger boy collects and saves in empty juice and Gatorade bottles. We just transplanted the lime into a slightly bigger pot with some fresh potting soil too! We will be on the lookout for an even bigger pot for next year. I’m thinking Christmas is coming and it’s an idea for him for then to get some bigger pots and other gardening goodies for then…… 🙂
Hope everything goes well for the remainder of the pregnancy!! I’m guessing it’s not much longer…hopefully for her sake so she feels better and can enjoy the baby!!!
That recipe does look good!!!! Jen got nice deals and the points too!!! I’m impressed!!! Too bad for me that No Frills isn’t part of those deals, at least not yet!! We can hope!!! Have a good weekend!!!!
Congrats on the baby news! How exciting.