Can I modify my resume to create a better story?

Question

Guys, I have a question regarding the resume that I am going to use for MBA application
I worked at 4 companies before MBA and I am not sure if I want to list them all in my resume.
The reason is that I would like to tailor my experience more like a entrepreneuer and one of my experience does not align with the overall story. What I really prefer is to delete that working experience in my resume and cover it by the other one. I would also write up some experiences in the essays to make it like a whole story. 
I understand that resume is a serious part of the MBA application. But I know that an ex-Mckinsey at Tuck did it and have had no consequence. The person omitted one of the company that he/she worked at and extended the working period of the other one to cover it. He/she even made up the experiences in the essays to align with the modified resume. It seems that the admission office does not really pay attention to the background check.
Does anyone know the exact procedure of backround check by the admission office? What is my opportunity of not being found out by the admission office. It seems that MBA programs in US are not that serious about background checking and many people can get in just by making up a good story.

djohnsons · Answer

Are you serious?! You are seriously crossing the line man... although I can hardly believe an ex-Mckinsey guy would need to do that to get into Tuck...

gty893 · Answer

I can't imagine anybody would suggest that you lie on your application. I could be wrong about that, but I doubt it.

ssilverstein · Answer

That's why I ask about it. It seems that many international MBA applicants did so. And many of those are admitted without any problem. Let us just be straight. No need to pretend.

djohnsons · Answer

I am interested in knowing the details as I am applying to Tuck. Do you know the details of past cases? I can hardly believe that school doesn't check...

sweeces · Answer

don't change the dates of your employment 
  don't make up anything 
  feel free to emphasize some parts over others (ex: one company can take up half the page with the other three are just summaries) 
  all it takes is one person to tell Tuck with your friend did and that person will get kicked out of the school and be blacklisted from all other schools 
  your resume isn't nearly as important as the rest of your application (it just gives the adcom the high-level overview of your life before they get into the nitty gritty)

ssilverstein · Answer

Thanks. The point is that my background is not as strong enough. It seems that I may have to run the risk. To make it safe, I will just keep it with me.
The example is encouraging although I see that as a bad example.

ssilverstein · Answer

BTW, the person is not my friend. I noticed that from a insider who actually is very familiar with the admission office.

bgpower · Answer

Generally, I think no one needs to come up with new stories, but just go deep and find the stories/challenges which develop certain characteristics. Everyone of us has the right stories, you just have to find them. On the other hand I shoud admit that in many cases, universities, but also companies, do not have to possibility for a in-debth check that's why I think that 1. it will be only very difficult (or almost impossible) for them to find out if a certain detail in your resume/essay is true or not, 2. I doubt that the ahve a background check at all. By this I mean that you can just mis-use or analyse you story from a different perspective (rather entrepreneurial candidatur, but not one having worked in multinational companies), but I shouldn't come up with an entirely new resume or write facts, which can easily be disproven -> pretend to have a HBS degree in Goverment.

Let's be honest - all schools have thousands of application. How should they check if all of the information is true? It's just that you have to be at peace.

Regards,

Let's be honest - all schools have thousands of application. How should they check if all of the information is true? It's just that you have to be at peace.

Regards,

jjborne · Answer

First of all, learn how to spell. Second, I can't believe this is even being debated. You either worked at an certain employer during a certain time or you didn't. Frankly, it's people like you that give MBAs and MBA candidates a bad name. It's the Jeff Chiangs, Russian Dude with the Youtube video, the Duke cheaters, and the Scoretop cheaters of the the world that makes thoroughly vetting applicants a necessity, and that's a freaking shame.

bgpower · Answer

Hey jjborne,

I might have some spelling errors, because of my typing speed. Sorry about that, I didn't know that it is that important to you.

It is not my intention to modify anything and I don't think it's a good idea either. I just replied to the question and I think my answer was a rather realistic one. It is my belief that every personality has had certain turning points in life, which "helped" developing important characteristics. That's what you need to show to the AdCom. And I am pretty sure - 99% of all applicants have their stories and don't need to write up lies.

BUT you have to agree that there certainly are many people, who "upgrade" their CVs. Universities, as well as companies (job application process) have difficulties performing such a background check. That's the truth and that's the reality of the application process. You know what moral hazard in a broad sense means? By the way, every candidate is allowed to tailor his/her application to the expectations of the university/company, which does not allow to devise things, but to miss out a certain work experience or, at least, not focus on it.

And please, keep your explanations of who I am for yourself...

MDF · Answer

However, they  will  check your dates of employment if you're admitted. If it doesn't match with what's on your app and resume, you're screwed.

jjborne · Answer

Sorry if I sounded too harsh. All I'm saying is tell the truth. There's no grey area with when and whom you worked for.

lala10 · Answer

Every school will do a background check, if admitted. Most use Kroll. They definitely do check dates of employment / places of employment, etc. Like others said, if yours don't match up (i.e. maybe not the exact date, but if your start/end months are severely off, they will raise red flags and admission can/will be revoked.

As others have noted, this is an ethical issue. Your past is your past and there's not much you can do to change it. If anything, I would try to spin your experiences (not by lying) and frame them up differently to cast yourself in a more 'entrepreneurial' light. That being said, I'd be cautious about doing that as well. more than ever, schools are looking for people who are employable (and easily so, which is why they like the McKs/GS/etc. of the world).

gty893 · Answer

I don't think there is anything wrong with highlighting certain experience and perhaps downplaying others; that is nature of the of the application process. But to knowingly lie on an app is fairly serious. You also have to understand that, assuming you are admitted, they will have your information on record for duration of your studies...something could come up where 2 and 2 don't add and you could be SOL and could face a humiliating reprimand up to expulsion after spending all of that tuition money. I couldn't live like that. There are ways to draw attention to certain experiences and away from others in an ethical manner...just do that.

ssilverstein · Answer

Thanks. I am thinking of it.
I just heard couple of bad examples. People omitted or extended working experiences to form a sexier resume. People make up stories in essays. And the consequences are that they were admitted and had a good MBA life.

bgpower · Answer

@jjborne: No problem at all. I think we all have come to the right point

Generally, if we have all come to the application process and focus on, let's say, Top20 BS then it's easier to try getting a job at wtih a good employer than just lie. If you apply for such schools, you can definitely make it also to GS, McK etc. Yep, it needs time, but lying is much worse and yeah, sooner or later every lie is being discovered. But then it comes to the essays, because with one and the same resume you can have many, many different essays. And with the essays you have room for improvement and, if you wish, room to find the right formulation the right way to articulate. Nothing more

washingtondc627 · Answer

.

bgpower · Answer

You are right

By tailoring your application I mean the case for an example that all BS, or most of them, do not want you to include information about internships in your resume, because they do not take it as work experience. It was just some days ago that I spoke on a MBA Fair with representatives of IE, INSEAD and Hult and only latter were interested in the candidates internships. In a way its also a kind of manipulation, but wanted from the business schools. I think it's fair also to not include some "barkeeper" jobs (don't want to sound disrespectful) or, as you sa, you have to have a pretty good explanation. It all depends on the particular case and person, but we all would agree that the right thing is to be honest and write the truth. Regards,

HaasEWMBA2015 · Answer

For my own resume, I list all of my professional work experience since graduation. With over 7 years of experience in a variety of positions, it would be foolish to list the part time jobs where I worked as a waiter or auto mechanic while attending undergrad. I however wouldn't omit any full-time professional experience after graduation to make my story look better. It however is appropriate to highlight certain areas of your work experience and tailor your resume for the adcoms.

Any outright omissions or lying will get your admission revoked or will get you kicked out of school if they don't find out until after you've matriculated, and rightfully so.

I'm surprised a topic like this even needs to be discussed.

Any outright omissions or lying will get your admission revoked or will get you kicked out of school if they don't find out until after you've matriculated, and rightfully so.

I'm surprised a topic like this even needs to be discussed.

Can I modify my resume to create a better story?

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