The ​do's and don'ts when it comes to embellishing your resume

Posted on 11/05/2022 by Caitlin Ielasi

The ​do's and don'ts when it comes to embellishing your resume

Defining the word embellish

Let's start by defining the term "embellish". According to Merriam-Webster, it means “to heighten the attractiveness of by adding decorative or fanciful details”.

It's perfectly fine to highlight your abilities on your resume in order to present yourself in a positive light. However, there is a distinction to be made between embellishment and lying. Your resume should only contain information that is supported by evidence. For example, can you provide cohesive examples of your experience and skills and will a past employer verify these details?

That's not to say you can't "embellish" your resume by choosing one word over another because it reads better, but don't include false information or details.​

Do's

• Present facts, skills, and experience in the most compelling way. Sometimes, using synonyms can help if you can't think of an attractive way to present a sentence. 

• Give specific examples of your accomplishments.

• Only include information that can be verified and/or demonstrated​

Don'ts

• Don't lie about content, for example, your dates of employment, skills, or experience.

• Don't provide half-truths. For example, if you have limited systems knowledge, don't say you are proficient; it's best to omit all together.

• Avoid mentioning incomplete education or courses.