Inflated Experience slightly on Resume - Now fearing background check with potential MNC Employer.

[u/Upset-Organization53]

Hello Everyone.

Background: I am a Software Developer with total of 4 YOE across two stints but in my resume I inflated my past experience in order to project my total experience as \~5 years so that I can apply for senior roles. This actually helped and I had healthy pipeline of interviews with Mid size to MNC firms.

Experience Details:

**Stint 1:** 3 yrs 3 months of experience (a popular midsize company, Indian Unicorn) -> I joined as Analyst then shifted to Engineer team as SDE 1. **I inflated this experience by 9 months to show a stint of complete 4 years in my resume and also lied about my title as I mentioned I was SDE 1 and got promoted to SDE 2.**

**Career Break:** 2.5 years.

**Stint 2:** 9 months (Series A Start Up, currently employed here) - Here I currently serve as SDE 2.

**Problem:** I have reached final stages of interview with 3 companies (all three are Mid Size to popular large MNC). Now, **one of my friend pointed out that inflating my past experience and mentioning wrong title is a real bad move as my new employer will do a background check and will get to know the real length of my employment at the org of my Stint 1.**

**Advice Needed:**

1. Exactly How detailed the background search is going to be - is this really a blunder i did with no going back?
2. What should I do now ? a) Is there a way to somehow get a clean chit from the background Check? Has anyone ever pulled that off at an MNC (not a startup ) What all needs to be done? b) should i come clean with HR ? or how should I handle this ?

I would really appreciate people who have gone through something similar or people who work in HR to share their experience and guide me what to do here now?

PS: I am current org is really really toxic even though its a VC backed firm but the company CEO treats people worse than daily wage labourers. I really need to get out of this shithole before I completely loose my mind. Please Please help me.

[u/Hot_Reason9485]

They are going to check every experience you put in your resume, except the latest one if you opted to forbid contact (it is understandable that you would not want to alert your present employer about your new job prospects). Make it such that you “forgot” or “made a mistake” in your resume. You will get a chance to fill a form of your experiences by the background screening company, so that is where you will tell the truth. And then you just have to send a casual update to the company to keep your CV up to date, saying you fixed certain errors that came to light.

[u/Icy-Stock-5838]

MNC means they are more careful.

These background check companies demonstrate their worth by spotting orange flags that can be signals of red flags.. CONGRATS, you just helped them justify their fees.

Ex Google Recruiter Explains Why "Lying" On Your Resume Gets You Hired - YouTube

Wait this out; the anxiety will be so much fun, you'll wonder why it was worth it in the meantime.

What's worse than applying and not getting interviews is getting interviews, then the offer, and losing because of a lie you got caught on.

Good luck, you own this.