6 Harmless Lies That Could Help You Ace Your Next Job Interview

By Jacquelyn Smith

We've all been warned at some point: "Never lie in a job interview!"

But Peter Harris, editor-in-chief of online job board Workopolis, says "that's simply not realistic."

"There are definitely some lies that you will likely have to tell in order to get hired for a new job," he explains. "You certainly shouldn't lie about abilities that you don't really have. There's no point in being hired for a job that you can't actually do."

You also shouldn't lie about working somewhere you haven't or obtaining educational credentials you haven't actually earned, he adds. "These are easily confirmed in background checks and tend to come out in the end."

But some half-truths, exaggerations, or white lies on your résumé, application, or in an interview are okay, he says.

Here are a few that are acceptable in certain situations: