Resume Time Filler Question

[PosterNutbag]

Ok, so here is the deal with me. I have had absolutely no job in 8 months. I used to work in Retail Management which really sucked. I quit that shit job in May 2008.

Anyway, as far as employeers asking me what I have been doing for 8 months...I have come up with a couple of ideas some of which are lies and some are true. Let me know what you think,

They are:

1. I have been waiting tables at ____ restaurant for the past 6 months so I chose not to put it on my resume b/c it is just waiting tables. Then just tell them that you would rather them contact other references since this would be a lie about me working at the restaurant.

2. Tell them I have been working at _____ business and get my mom to vouch for me as a reference if they should call. This really is my mom's business and she said she would vouch for me. Yes, this is somewhat a lie, but if they contact my mom as a reference they can't say that I haven't been working.

3. Tell them that I started going back to school to get a graduate degree or back to a tech school to get a 2 year degree in something. How would they know if I was going to school or not. I know this would mean that haven't been working but at least I am doing something productive with my time.

Ok yes these 3 scenarios are all lies, but how could they really question me about any of them. All 3 situations would cover my gap in employment.

I do not like to lie but desperate times call for desperate measures. You gotta do what you gotta do sometime. Plus it just seems like employeers just PLAIN do not understand why someone would not have some kind of job. There could be dozens of reasons why. And just b/c someone hasn't worked in a while doesn't mean that they aren't capable of working again or being a productive person in some capacity. Somtimes employeers piss me off with this type of shit...like they have never been in a similar situation at some time in their life, ya know?:mad:

All comments/suggestions are welcome!!!:)

[Screen Name]

Ok, so here is the deal with me. I have had absolutely no job in 8 months. I used to work in Retail Management which really sucked. I quit that shit job in May 2008.

Anyway, as far as employeers asking me what I have been doing for 8 months...I have come up with a couple of ideas some of which are lies and some are true. Let me know what you think,

They are:

1. I have been waiting tables at ____ restaurant for the past 6 months so I chose not to put it on my resume b/c it is just waiting tables. Then just tell them that you would rather them contact other references since this would be a lie about me working at the restaurant.

2. Tell them I have been working at _____ business and get my mom to vouch for me as a reference if they should call. This really is my mom's business and she said she would vouch for me. Yes, this is somewhat a lie, but if they contact my mom as a reference they can't say that I haven't been working.

3. Tell them that I started going back to school to get a graduate degree or back to a tech school to get a 2 year degree in something. How would they know if I was going to school or not. I know this would mean that haven't been working but at least I am doing something productive with my time.

Ok yes these 3 scenarios are all lies, but how could they really question me about any of them. All 3 situations would cover my gap in employment.

I do not like to lie but desperate times call for desperate measures. You gotta do what you gotta do sometime. Plus it just seems like employeers just PLAIN do not understand why someone would not have some kind of job. There could be dozens of reasons why. And just b/c someone hasn't worked in a while doesn't mean that they aren't capable of working again or being a productive person in some capacity. Somtimes employeers piss me off with this type of shit...like they have never been in a similar situation at some time in their life, ya know?:mad:

All comments/suggestions are welcome!!!:)


WOW... I was really feeling bad for you yesterday, I tried to really reach out, after reading this I think you must just be a piece of crap. Obviously I'm not the nicest guy here all the time, but I had a soft spot for your first post. Now after seeing this it just makes me fucking furious that you might actually WEASEL your way into a job fucking over a qualified candidate because you are getting YOUR FUCKING MOM TO LIE FOR YOU?!

Are you kidding?! I honestly don't feel bad for your job search struggles anymore... good luck you'll need it. People like you that cheat their way into a job suck, you're going to have your mom lie for you while you've been going to the gym 5 days a week?! Good luck staying afloat when there's nobody around to lie for your lazy ass anymore. Every molecule of sympathy I had for you has just been erased, for talented and qualified people seeking employment you are the enemy.

I am in total disbelief that your mom is dumb enough to think lying will help you get ahead and I am shocked you actually are asking us basically "what lie is best, the one I tell them or the one where my mommy is my alibi?"

[PosterNutbag]

Screen Name,

Man it's not like how you are seeing it man. One of the things that I think that is holding me back is simply not having a job. Some people say that in order to get a job you have to have one already, so with that being said...I simply have had no luck in obtaining any kind of job over the past 8 months man. So, just like some interviewers/employeers will do...is that they lie like fuck...they lie about hiring you they lie about job descriptions....they lie about this and that lie about that...

so why can't I tell a little fib to try and solve this hellacious problem of mine. You have to play their little game sometime. I mean in some ways the lies that had outlined are true b/c 1. I have worked for my mom in the past, but not right now and 2. I have worked as a waiter at a point in my life.

I am actually a really honest person and believe that I have great character, but these days a lot of people are dishonest about all kinds of shit....sometimes you just have to play the "game." But anyway you are entitled to your own opinion...but good luck to you too!!!:)

[yankeeyosh]

Screen Name,

Man it's not like how you are seeing it man. One of the things that I think that is holding me back is simply not having a job. Some people say that in order to get a job you have to have one already, so with that being said...I simply have had no luck in obtaining any kind of job over the past 8 months man. So, just like some interviewers/employeers will do...is that they lie like fuck...they lie about hiring you they lie about job descriptions....they lie about this and that lie about that...

so why can't I tell a little fib to try and solve this hellacious problem of mine. You have to play their little game sometime. I mean in some ways the lies that had outlined are true b/c 1. I have worked for my mom in the past, but not right now and 2. I have worked as a waiter at a point in my life.

I am actually a really honest person and believe that I have great character, but these days a lot of people are dishonest about all kinds of shit....sometimes you just have to play the "game." But anyway you are entitled to your own opinion...but good luck to you too!!!:)


You're bound to get caught. Background checks will catch up to you, and even if you get the job, they can find out about you eventually, and that could destroy you in the long run. The best bet is to tell the truth.

[wordsmith]

Is there any reason you just DON'T work for your mom during this dry spell? My family runs a business, and my brother quit his job earlier this year, and has been working for my dad in the interim to avoid resume gaps. It's not his ideal job, but it's given him something to do, money to live off of, and helped prevent a questionable resume.

[Samwell]

I simply have had no luck in obtaining any kind of job over the past 8 months man.
Technically you didn't have any luck finding a job you considered worthwhile in the past 8 months.

I am actually a really honest person and believe that I have great character, but these days a lot of people are dishonest about all kinds of shit....sometimes you just have to play the "game." But anyway you are entitled to your own opinion...but good luck to you too!!!:)

Isn't the definition of character doing the right thing regardless of what everyone else is doing? This (and everything, really) is a test of your character. At this point it's either own up to the mistake(s) or lie and ask your mom to help cover your ass. Only one of these evidences character, in my opinion.

[PosterNutbag]

I am new to these boards and this website so I will apologize for the other postings. Maybe you guys are right....maybe being honest is always the best way, but man, I'll tell ya my life has been really depressing lately and I am only trying to make it just a little better if possible. Can you blame a guy?

Socially, Professionally, Financially....I am having major problems in all of these areas if can't tell from my other posts. I am not trying to gain sympathy from anyone really. I guess I use this site as a way to vent and write and get out my frustrations with life right now.

It always helps when others can relate to you in some way. It makes me feel a little better about my life I guess. I am trying really hard to fight some depressing thoughts such as suicide and being pretty much fucked for life in all of those area mentioned above.

But please just accept my apology and let's move on and try to continue helping each other out in these times. Thanks!!!:)

[winneythepooh7]

If you are feeling suicidal, I think it's more helpful to speak with a professional who can help you set up a game plan to get your life back on track. The boards are not necessarily geared to help you in that realm in my honest (and well, professional!) opinion----I have worked in the human services field for 10 years.

Venting, relating to others on some levels, yes----but I think it makes the overall community uneasy and feeling a sense of helplessness if someone comes on here and alludes to wanting to take their own life. If it's at that point, there's not a whole lot we can do to help you except make the recommendation to please, please reach out to a mental health professional in your neck of the woods.

[Restless&Lost]

Dude, you got issues that the best job on earth couldn't cure. Do what the above post says and please go get some help!

[Screen Name]

I am new to these boards and this website so I will apologize for the other postings. Maybe you guys are right....maybe being honest is always the best way, but man, I'll tell ya my life has been really depressing lately and I am only trying to make it just a little better if possible. Can you blame a guy?

Socially, Professionally, Financially....I am having major problems in all of these areas if can't tell from my other posts. I am not trying to gain sympathy from anyone really. I guess I use this site as a way to vent and write and get out my frustrations with life right now.

It always helps when others can relate to you in some way. It makes me feel a little better about my life I guess. I am trying really hard to fight some depressing thoughts such as suicide and being pretty much fucked for life in all of those area mentioned above.

But please just accept my apology and let's move on and try to continue helping each other out in these times. Thanks!!!:)

Just take my first advice and keep pushing with the realization that this is not entirely your fault, in many ways all of us are victims of a terrible economy, the timing to be young and looking for work is awful. DON'T have you frigging mom lie for you, don't lie, just get off your butt and do something other than curl weights at the gym 5 days a week. damn if you're going to the gym that much why not just try to become a personal trainer, spin your gym time into a business. I say go to the gym 3 times a week at 6am or after 7pm and try to do something 9-5, call a local financial planner and ask him if you can be an intern or something, anything. You went to college, you seem to think you are presentable, there's no reason to have your mother LIE for you, that's just childish. Your posts just sound like you are incredibly inexperienced, just get out there and get dirty doing something. I cannot even imagine if I lost out to an open job by someone that had their mom lie for them, I mean just stop trying to validate that playing the game dirty is the only way to play. If you don't want to be a victim be an entreprenuer, sounds like you live rent free so why not try to take a skill or a hobby and turn it into a job. I think it's one thing to come here with complaints, and yours seemed valid, but the second you basically admit your mom is going to help you cover a gap on your resume that you created well, in a sense you become the very reason many of us are here. Too many times people get ahead based on things other than their skill and performance and basically you are disclosing your strategy to try and join that talentless crowd still on their mothers fucking nipple. Cut the cord, carve your own path, don't kill yourself but just realize this is about as tough as it will ever get- if you can make it through this stage of the economy you can make it through anything. I do not think you need a shrink as much as you just need to get creative, stop thinking black and white submit, apply, interview etc- cubicle jobs are not the only option. Traditional workers are being sent overseas everyday, put that education to work and come up with something creative while applying for jobs and I bet you'll feel a lot better and who knows what will happen. The sky's the limit when you are not pigeon-holed into a field yet, tougher than walking into a fresh career is walking away from one into another.