When it's totally fine to “lie” on your resume
The art of reframing
January 4, 2026
No, you're not being dishonest. You're finally telling your story in a way that recruiters + filters can understand.
There's a weird stigma in career advice that says:
“Never lie on your resume.”
And yes, don't say you're a neurosurgeon if you've never held a scalpel.
But somewhere along the way, this turned into something unhelpful: People started downplaying their accomplishments, choosing the least impressive wording possible, and treating their resumes like legal documents instead of marketing documents.
Here's the truth:
You're not lying when you reframe your experience. You're translating it so humans (and algorithms) can actually recognize your value.
Below are five completely legitimate, ethical, and strategic ways to “lie” on your resume - aka, how to tell the truth in the right language.
1. When you've used similar tools
Let's say the job description asks for Excel and you've only used Google Sheets.
You're not underqualified. You're just speaking the wrong dialect.
Try:
Proficient in Google Sheets and tools similar to Excel.
It signals the core skill (spreadsheets, formulas, analysis) without pretending you're an Excel power user. And yes, using familiar keywords helps you get past automated filters.
This connects the dots recruiters don't have time to connect themselves.
2. When your side projects actually count
Side projects? Freelance favors? Helping a friend's startup with branding?
They count.
But calling them “personal projects” makes them sound like hobbies.
Reframe: “Independent project” or “Freelance design project.”
Instead of:
“Brand design for a friend's startup.”
Say:
“Freelance Brand Designer - Created visual identity for an early-stage company.”
Same work. Different perception.
3. When your team contributions get downplayed
Most people (especially women) use minimizing language on resumes:
- “Helped with…”
- “Supported the team by…”
- “Assisted in…”
These words erase your impact.
Swap them for:
- Contributed to
- Partnered on
- Owned my part of
- Led my portion of
Example:
❌ “Helped with company rebrand.”
✅ “Partnered on company-wide rebrand impacting 50K+ users.”
You didn't lie. You described your impact accurately and confidently.
4. When you're pivoting careers
Career changes require translation.
Your skills are valid—you just need to express them in language the new industry understands.
Example: Teacher → Tech Customer Support
“Managed a classroom of 30” becomes
“Handled high-volume inquiry management and maintained service expectations under pressure.”
Or:
“Tracked student progress” becomes
“Monitored performance metrics and outcomes.”
This isn't deception. It's making your transferable skills visible.
5. When your job titles were… weird
If you've ever worked at an early startup or a bureaucratic institution, you know the pain:
- “Program Specialist II”
- “Culture Ambassador”
- “Operations Floater”
- “Business Ninja” (why)
These titles tell recruiters nothing.
It's completely legitimate to clarify what you actually did. You can use parenthesis or slashes if you'd like to persist your old title with it's industry equivalent.
Try:
“Program Specialist (Project Manager equivalent)”
“Marketing Associate / Campaign Lead”
You're not changing history. You're making your scope understandable.
Why this matters
Recruiters aren't detectives. ATS systems aren't intuitive. And job descriptions aren't written to decode your internal job history.
Your resume is not a confession. It's a translation.
The goal is to describe your experience accurately, clearly, and in a way that aligns with what employers are actually looking for.
Final thoughts
This is exactly why we're building Vire. A system that pulls out your motivations, skills, working style, and strengths automatically… so you don't have to contort your experience into the “right keywords” just to get seen.
Because the real problem isn't candidates.
It's the outdated hiring systems that don't know how to recognize full humans.