This document lists the top 10 lies that job candidates commonly tell and the truths behind those lies. The lies include claiming to have other job offers to pressure for a quick decision, exaggerating one's responsibilities at previous roles, blaming former employers for short job tenures to cover performance issues, providing only personal references to avoid professional references, saying previous employers were stealth startups to explain unverifiable employment, claiming to still have good relationships with former employers after being fired, demanding significantly higher compensation than previous roles, calling oneself a vice president without actually managing others, and generally being creative with the truth to mask employment gaps or issues. Knowing these common lies can help avoid making bad hiring decisions.

1. TOP10LIES
OFJOBCANDIDATES
www.guykawasaki.com
SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL 1
BY AMY VERNETTI, PARTNER AT TRUE CAPITAL
YOU DIFFERENT ONES, AT LEAST HE IS CREATIVE.
Study the top 10 lies of job candidates. This will help you avoid making
hiring mistakes. This is a definitive list of lies, so if your candidate tells you
different ones, at least he/she is creative.
LIE TRUTH
“I’ve got three other offers, so you’d
better move quickly.”
“I was responsible for my company’s
strategic alliance with Google.”
I’ve had three other interviews, and
no one has flat-out rejected me yet.
I picked up the Fed Ex envelope
from Google.
“I’m leaving my current organization
after only a few months because
the organization isn’t what the CEO
told me it was.”
I don’t know how to do due
diligence.

2. “I’m leaving my current organization
after only a few months because
the organization isn’t what the CEO
told me it was.”
No one wanted me in her
department.
“I’ve never been with a company for
more than a year because I get
bored easily.”
It takes people about a year to
figure out that I’m a bozo.
“Most of my references are personal
friends because they know me best.”
“You’ve never heard of my last three
employers because they were in
stealth mode.”
No one I worked for is willing to
give me a reference.
All the companies I worked for
imploded.
“I’m no longer with the organization,
but I maintain an excellent
relationship with people there.”
I was forced to sign a
non-disparagement agreement to
get my severance package.
“I’m expecting to at least double my
prior compensation package.”
I was overpaid and understand
that that I may have to take cut for
a good opportunity.
“I am a vice president, but no one
reports to me.”
I’ve been put out to pasture.
LIE TRUTH