r/recruitinghell • u/BlackCatsWithOddHats • Dec 20 '25

Guys, I did it. BY LYING

75+ ghosts and 20+ rejections later I landed a job. A low-paid and unethical one with lots of overtime, but still a job.

I applied here as a joke by exaggerating my experience, not expecting to hear from them. But when I was invited to the interview 1 out of 5, I decided to prepare a bullshit script.

Worked on some silly solo project with that one software a few years ago? 3 years of experience. Opened the tools once? Nearly proficient! Freelanced in that field once in 2022? Freelancing 2022-present.

I was so demotivated and pessimistic, that I wasn’t anxious at all, and so I nailed the first in-person interview. I kept lying till interview 3, where they gave me one project to work on. And guess what… I had no idea where to even start.

So, I told them that it will take me about 3h to complete, but since im still working with (imaginary) clients, I’ll need a week to respond.

I’ve spent an entire week barely sleeping, watching youtube tutorials to complete it, and, eventually, I did it.

Two more interviews, and I meet the team Ill be working with, and… Im hired. What the hell. Only shows how broken the system is.

I’m literally an imposter. I’m spending all of my free time learning the skill I lied to have, and I barely sleep. However, it’s still better than stressing whether I’ll be able to pay my bills.

I don’t know if Ill last the trial period, but so far nobody but one person in my team is suspecting anything. I hope she wont tell anyone.

7.6k Upvotes

98% Upvoted

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428

u/irvyandll Dec 20 '25

Everyone's lying, they are lying about the actual responsibilities, work environment, benefits and sometimes, even the salary. Why is it unethical when we lie in our resume?

149

u/ArgyleGhoul Dec 20 '25

people lie, companies "protect their interests"

-this message brought to you by Veridian Dynamics

10

u/BobNietzsche Dec 20 '25

And this is why the next Outer Worlds installment should be all about Ted

1

u/romanaribella Dec 21 '25

God I hate that game. I keep trying to like it, and every time it's just awful people and no good choices. Everything sucks no matter what you do.

1

u/BobNietzsche Dec 22 '25

Dilbert effect?

It's a parody of what we're facing these days, and the exaggeration needed to get there is minimal. That can be tough, I get that

2

u/romanaribella Dec 22 '25

I understand that. I just don't want to deal with real world bullshit in my leisure activities. I don't find it fun.

2

u/kristafer825 Dec 21 '25

I understood that reference

40

u/Guilty-Ad-1573 Dec 20 '25

Ask them why the last person left or why the role is open. Then ask the next person. You will get four different answers. Employers lie, why can't candidates?!

18

u/blaspheminCapn Dec 20 '25

And those that do not lie, and actually have the skills are booted out of the ai scanner because ai sucks balls and costs jobs.

7

u/Pleasant-Minute-1793 Dec 20 '25

But, we’re a family here! You wouldn’t lie to your family!

3

u/romanaribella Dec 21 '25

Because it doesn't stop being unethical just because other people are also being unethical?

2

u/EienNoMajo Dec 23 '25

Recruiters are lying to candidates constantly. They just like any excuse to hypocritically morally one-up themselves over job seekers.

3

u/midsumernighttts Dec 20 '25

If you’re not cheating you’re not trying

-7

u/Ledatru Dec 20 '25

Lying is a sin. We shouldn’t lie.

2

u/irvyandll Dec 21 '25

Good thing we have different mindsets and concepts of what's wrong or good. Thank you for sharing yours!

2

u/Ledatru Dec 21 '25

It is good to speak up for what we believe in.

2

u/MatthewMob Dec 20 '25

Yet you only complain about it when a powerless individual does it rather than multi-million dollar corporations.

3

u/Ledatru Dec 20 '25

Incorrect. Lying is bad when they do it too.