Adding stuff to your CV - hmmmm

[psychocandy]

Not me - I think I'm too honest which is part of the problem!

Speaking to me a mate of mine, also a contractor, who says he regularly does this. If its something minor in the job spec that hes doesn't know he'll stick it in his CV anyway. His rationale that its just 'another application' (usually) and that he knows he would be able to do it. Mostly when hes done something similar but not specific.

I suppose there is some truth in this. I've always wondered why clients seem to prefer to have a candidate with the one key word on their CV, rather than a candidate whos got better overall experience. Its like the old joke - 'Van Driver Wanted - Must have experience of red vans'.

Not sure how comfortable I'd be doing this, but, to a certain extent I think I agree that the person is more important that exact skills.
In the same way, I suppose when clients ask stupid, obscure technical interview questions. I often think - why do I need to know the exact format of this command off the top of my head - I can google it in 3 seconds!

Anyone else do this?

[MyUserName]

I normally only put down things I have actually done but I may not have done them very much. For example I have written a few apps in C# so it's on my cv even though I have not used it much.

My thinking is that I can do it if I need to and often they do not ask about it in the interview anyway but would not interview you if it was not there. If they asked a very detailed question about C# and it was a show stopper then I google the answer when I get home and have it ready for next time.

[northernladuk]

In the same way, I suppose when clients ask stupid, obscure technical interview questions. I often think - why do I need to know the exact format of this command off the top of my head - I can google it in 3 seconds!

Would you get an electrician in that has to google the latest regs while he is working on your job?

[SueEllen]

Would you get an electrician in that has to google the latest regs while he is working on your job?

It's not the same kind of question, and electricians and plumbers do look things up and ask mates how to plan certain things.

[aoxomoxoa]

It's not the same kind of question, and electricians and plumbers bodge things on the fly.

FTFY

[Damon]

I'd say that it is ok to adjust your CV to emphasise something you have experience of.

I often get asked about aspects of programmes/projects that I don't feature heavily in my CV but will keyword adjust to assist the CV when it goes to the client.

I don't go for technical roles so it is a little different than misrepresenting technical experience, but I wouldn't mislead....e.g. I am not an expert on credit risk, but all of my programmes have a credit risk element so at a high-level I understand the concepts, concerns and business drivers for risk strategies.

That said I would not adjust my CV and say I was a risk expert and apply. There is a difference.

[Dark Black]

Would you get an electrician in that has to google the latest regs while he is working on your job?

Not the same thing at all - a good software engineer can develop in any language, it's not necessary to be anal about every class's member function (for example) - you just need to know where to look to find out.

[kingcook]

Not the same thing at all - a good software engineer can develop in any language, it's not necessary to be anal about every class's member function (for example) - you just need to know where to look to find out.

A good software developer can develop in any language if they are given the time to learn the language. Sure it can only take a few days to learn a new language's syntax. Assuming that a client is prepared to pay a contractor to learn the basics, what about all of the frameworks, libraries and other API that will take a lot longer to learn? That could take months maybe years to learn properly.

[northernladuk]

Not the same thing at all - a good software engineer can develop in any language, it's not necessary to be anal about every class's member function (for example) - you just need to know where to look to find out.

It's not the same kind of question, and electricians and plumbers do look things up and ask mates how to plan certain things.

Both good points but when you are trying to assess someone's skills in a short space of time would you not pick the guy that can rattle the most correct answers off there and then rather than said he would have to go google it or ask a mate? Not easy for a client to spot a blagger in such a short amount of time. It certainly has it's flaws don't get me wrong but if you ask a guy 3 questions and he doesn't know and you ask the next guy and he rattles them off what are you going to think.

[DieScum]

Yeah, when I'm trying for roles outside my main skill set I'll blag some minor stuff to get past the agents/HR people.

It's a fine line but it's better to get your foot in the door and prove yourself than be excluded on the basis of some minor point.

I can pick up pretty much anything loosely related to my skill set quickly and that's usually what they actually need.