The basic objective of a resume is to get you a job interview. It is said that when you are invited for a job interview, you already have one foot inside the door because in the interview, you will be given enough time to elaborate on sketchy information that you have supplied in your resume, or even an opportunity to correct erroneous details.

Given this premise, are you then justified to lie about your credentials in order to gain a job interview? The answer is an indisputable NO! The internet has made it very easy to verify information. Virtually every institution has a website. And if the institution you are citing in your resume is so insignificant that it has no website, then your prospective employer might not be interested in interviewing you at all.

The fact that a lot of people lie in their resumes and some are successful at it is no justification for also doing it. Lying is worse than being under-qualified because it is a character flaw while being under-qualified could be attributable to a number of factors, some beyond the applicant's control. A person whose qualifications are just a bit below the established standard but is perceived to have potentials may be considered for a development program but never a person with a questionable character.

However, you can be creative about your credentials and that is acceptable. Your interviewer will understand that you are trying to put your best foot forward. You might even be given credits for creativity.

Another thing that you should remember not to put in your resume is a list of responsibilities in your previous jobs. Your prospective employer is not interested in them. He will also have responsibilities to give you. What he will be interested in is how you performed vis-a-vis those responsibilities. Your PAR (Problem-Action-Result) record will be more valuable.

Previous salaries or salary levels are also a no-no. If you were paid a low salary, it might give them the idea that you were an underachiever. If you were paid too highly, it might give them the idea that you are an expensive acquisition. Either way, previous salaries are not your best bet for getting a job interview.

Irrelevant skills or qualifications are better left out in preparing your resume. They just clutter your resume and may even give your prospective employer an impression that you lack focus. A piece of information is irrelevant if it has no value to the job you are applying for.

Finally, misspellings, typographical and grammatical errors have no place in your resume. They convey your attitude towards quality of work. If you are having trouble fixing your typographical or other resume errors, you may consider a professional resume writing service to assist.

Jaime is a former partner of an executive recruiting firm in Boston, MA. She has extensive experience in the business of talent acquisition and career consulting, having worked closely with many decision-makers and hiring managers at Fortune 500 companies. Prior to her career in executive recruiting, Jaime spent several years honing her writing skills as an editor and copywriter. To learn more about Resume Writing, you may visit: http://www.jcresumes.com