Interview Tips Interview Tips, Interview Questions and Answers

Lie in an Interview? Right or Wrong? Part 1

You're not supposed to lie, so how do you explain away all these things and remain in the running for a job? Or, the better question is, can you?

"The honesty police may arrest me, but I'd have to say that everyone has probably shaded the truth in an interview," says Alan Guinn, managing director of The Guinn Consultancy Group. "It's not that as applicants we're inherently dishonest. It's that society places such a critical importance on success achievement that we look for ways to present ourselves in the best light possible."

Guinn says that honesty is generally the best policy when it comes to your interview, but in some cases, it can be hard to explain actions in which you have been peripherally involved or caught up. While you shouldn't flat-out lie about anything, you should position your answers so that you are the responsible party, rather than the one to blame, Guinn says.

Some situations are more tempting to fudge the truth in than others. Here are 10 of those situations and how you can be honest with a potential employer and stay in the running for a job:

What if ...

1. I am one credit short of graduating?
Some employers ask for proof of a diploma -- some don't. It's not worth risking that you won't be asked to show a certificate or diploma and have it blow up in your face.

"Be totally upfront and ask the employer if they have a tuition reimbursement program which would help you finish that last course you need to graduate. I've actually been asked that several times and have gone to the employer to secure assistance for an applicant if a formal policy was not in place," Guinn says. "This makes the employer look good ... they are supporting the personal and professional growth of their employees."

2. I was fired?
Being fired today doesn't hold a lot of the social stigma it once did, Guinn says. If you're asked why you left a previous position, tell the interviewer what really happened.

"Lots of people get fired for lots of reasons. You may be a totally innocent party in a financial scandal. You may be a qualified, competent employee working for a company which must shave head count. There are many reasons you could have been fired, or let go, or made redundant," he says.

3.  I have a misdemeanor or felony on my record from a long time ago?
The employer will most likely do a background check and this will come up on the search. If you're asked to elaborate, be upfront about what happened.

"My guess is that you have more than 'served your time' or 'done your punishment,'" Guinn says. "If the employer asks, be honest, and tell them that it was a long time ago, you made a mistake and you paid the piper." Share what you learned from the situation.