Not long ago, I was asked by some literary friends what kind of work is non-fiction but where the author uses lyrical embellishments to stretch the truth? I responded–an autobiography. People in their autobiographies tend to stretch out their adventures and derring do. Sometimes they do more than embellish, but create their pasts form fresh fictional clay. The more mundane elements of the past are suddenly elevated and minor encounters become lurid romance or notable achievements in the battlefields of life.
It’s not always a bad thing. In fact, certain embellishments and the more creative additions to one’s past history makes for far more interesting reading. Or to take a quote from John Ford’s wonderful Western classic, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance…” No, sir. This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.”
But then when one stretches the truth on his work history it may be another matter. The tale spinner is no longer spinning his yarns for entertainment value, but using them to get a leg up on his competition, all after the same job. In the eyes of his peers, the fictional recounting of his work may make your employee or candidate look more important. But then, when it is discovered that appearances are not quite what the seem and that his work history is questionable, the employer can suffer embarrassment and even liability issues.
Clients may start to wonder if that person can even perform. Of, what I hear often, if he lies about this kind of thing, what else does he lie about?
Questions have been raised about a number of high profile people, lately. They have claimed everything from advanced degrees to romantic and comprehensive work histories. Often the claims go unverified, or those trying to verify these claims find that the entities where the employee was supposedly engaged denies he even worked there.
Which is why is pays to verify all employment up front. Never get so swept up in either the media posturing or the adulation that you allow certain mythical elements about someone’s job history be taken at face value.
It can cost you.
