Lying is one of the worst things we can do if we’re genuinely trying to connect with someone professionally. Sure, shouting or threatening someone might be worse—but job seekers rarely resort to that. The same goes for employees hoping for a raise or freelancers pitching for work. Lying, however, is sadly common in the workplace.
Degrees of Lying
Like most bad behaviors, lying comes in degrees, with varying levels of severity.
There’s the criminal lie—for example, someone printing a fake degree at home and passing it off as real.
Then there are white lies, often used to dodge uncomfortable or intrusive questions. Think of situations where women are asked whether they have children or plan to have them. A white lie might feel like the least painful option in that moment.
Next, we have the everyday résumé lies, told by people who may not be scammers, but are stretching the truth to improve their chances.
There's the "chewing gum" lie, where facts get stretched just enough to sound better. A job that lasted from November 2015 to January 2016 becomes “2015–2016,” which technically isn’t false, but can mislead a quick reader into thinking it spanned two full years.
And then there's the "a chicken is a duck" lie—when someone tries to pass one thing off as something else entirely. For example, someone who sells smartphones might call it “experience in the telecommunications industry.” Or a restaurant host might describe their role as “project management” because they organized seating and took reservations.
Lying Doesn’t Magically Become Acceptable
Needing a job, a client, or a raise doesn’t turn dishonesty into a valid strategy. It erodes the very foundation of the relationship you’re trying to build. You can’t start a solid, meaningful professional—or personal—connection based on a lie.
Even with white lies, the connection starts on shaky ground. If you feel the need to lie to start a conversation or get a foot in the door, you and the other person are not on the same wavelength. And even if the lie “works,” it leads to a dead end—you’ll have to keep it going, and that creates stress, distrust, and distance.
So Why Do People Still Lie?
Often, it comes from a sense of inadequacy or the belief that everyone else is doing it, too. Sometimes it’s a misguided attempt to make a better impression. But whatever the motivation, the result is the same: people are reacting to a version of you that isn’t real. That’s not connection—it’s performance.
Try This Exercise
Ask yourself:
What would happen if I told the truth—just the plain truth?
What if I wrote down what actually happened, with no spin?
What if people saw the real me?
Dropped out of college? Check. Got a DUI? Check. Quit a boring job and ghosted the boss? Check.
Yes, some people will care. Some may reject you. Some companies might walk away.
But would you carry a black cloud over your head like a cartoon character with bad luck? Not really.
The truth filters people out—but that’s not a bad thing. What’s left is the opportunity to build authentic professional relationships. Ones based on honesty, mutual respect, and actual compatibility.
Final Thought
Will telling the truth reduce your chances to 0%? Absolutely not. (In fact, in Post #1, I talk about why there's almost never a 0% chance—feel free to head there and drop your thoughts in the comments. I’m all ears—or eyes.)
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