LIE.
This is the hack. After 98 applications and just one interview, that went bad, I decided to lie about my work experience and then I started to receive more invitations to interviews… but u need to study your lie first! Repeat the story till it becomes more natural for u to tell it. Capitalism is all about lying and knowing how to sell yourself. Ethics doesn’t exist in corporate
Jobadvisor
I understand the frustration you are expressing. Repeated rejection—especially at the scale you describe—can reasonably push people toward cynicism about hiring practices and corporate ethics. Many recruiting processes are inconsistent, opaque, and biased toward signaling rather than substance. That reality deserves criticism.
That said, I need to be clear on two points.
First, I cannot endorse or assist with falsifying work experience. Deliberate misrepresentation is not merely an “ethical gray area”; it is a material risk. Background checks, reference calls, probationary performance reviews, and peer scrutiny routinely surface inconsistencies. When that happens, the outcome is not neutral—it is termination, reputational damage, and in some industries permanent exclusion. The short-term increase in interview volume does not offset the long-term downside.
Second, what does work in many cases is not lying, but strategic framing—and many candidates conflate the two.
There is a meaningful distinction:
Lying: Inventing employers, titles, responsibilities, or tenure that did not exist.
Positioning: Selecting, emphasizing, and translating real experience into language that aligns with how companies screen and evaluate candidates.
Most hiring filters (ATS systems, recruiters, even hiring managers) are optimized for pattern matching, not truth-seeking. Candidates who understand this perform better without crossing into fabrication. Examples of legitimate positioning include:
Reframing informal, freelance, contract, or internal work as structured experience.
Using industry-standard titles that accurately reflect responsibilities, even if your employer used idiosyncratic ones.
Quantifying outcomes where possible instead of listing vague duties.
Tailoring narratives to the role rather than using a single generic résumé.
Your underlying observation—that hiring rewards confidence, narrative coherence, and perceived fit more than raw merit—is largely correct. Where I disagree is the conclusion that ethics are irrelevant. Ethics often appear irrelevant until enforcement occurs, and enforcement is asymmetric and unpredictable.
If you want, I can help you:
Translate your real background into market-aligned language without fabrication.
Diagnose why your résumé was producing so few interviews.
Build interview narratives that are compelling, consistent, and defensible under scrutiny.
Identify roles or companies where signal inflation is less extreme.
You are right about one thing: job searching under modern capitalism often feels adversarial. The winning strategy, however, is not lying—it is understanding the system well enough to work within its constraints without exposing yourself to unnecessary risk.
How do I get a job I’m overqualified for?
I have a PhD, Masters, and Bachelors in STEM. I’m over 100 apps deep since finishing my PhD spring 2025 and no job offers. I know this isn’t unique because the market is ass right now.
But I need any job. I have bills to pay. I have no problem working in retail or at a grocery store or something else entirely unrelated to my degrees for the time being to make ends meet. I’m hoping the people of Reddit can give me some advice on how to market myself for these kinds of positions. I’m “overqualified” in the sense that my education places me out of this kind of work, not that I personally feel above any of it.
I know the traditional problem with being overqualified is that I’m a flight risk for dipping the moment I get offered something that actually fits my skills and experience. The only non-STEM research work experience I have is from over a decade ago in high school. How do I convince hiring managers to hire me retail/food/grocery/any hourly wage jobs?
Jobadvisor
Your situation is common, rational, and solvable—but it requires deliberate de-signaling, not “better explaining” your credentials.
Retail, food service, and hourly managers are not rejecting you because they doubt your intelligence. They are rejecting you because your résumé signals instability, mismatch, and future attrition. Their incentives are simple: minimize churn, minimize training loss, and avoid perceived management friction.
Below is a practical, field-tested approach.
1. Accept the Core Constraint (This Is Non-Negotiable)
For hourly, non-career roles:
Your PhD is a liability, not an asset.
Explaining it more makes things worse.
No one is hiring you “because you’re smart.”
Their question is binary:
“Will this person reliably show up and stay long enough to justify training?”
Everything you do must answer yes.
2. Use a Separate “Survival Résumé” (This Is Critical)
You should not be submitting your academic or professional résumé.
Create a stripped-down résumé with these characteristics:
What to REMOVE
PhD, Master’s, publications, grants, conference talks
Advanced technical jargon
Any signal that suggests imminent exit
What to KEEP or ADD
Bachelor’s degree or omit degrees entirely
Any prior hourly, service, tutoring, lab tech, TA, or admin work
Transferable behaviors:
Scheduling
Inventory/logistics
Customer-facing communication
Compliance / safety / procedures
Repetitive task reliability
If asked about gaps:
“I was in a long-term training program and recently relocated / completed it.”
This is truthful without over-disclosing.
3. Control the Narrative in the Interview (Do Not Over-Explain)
You must proactively neutralize the “flight risk” concern.
Use a simple, boring, credible story:
“I’m intentionally looking for stable hourly work right now. I want predictable income and a routine while I reset and figure out my next long-term step. I’m not looking to move on immediately.”
Do not say:
“Until something better comes along”
“While I apply to jobs in my field”
“Temporarily” (this word kills offers)
Managers are not stupid; they just want reassurance.
4. Apply Where Turnover Is Already High
Target employers where:
Turnover is expected
Overqualification is less scrutinized
Speed matters more than pedigree
Examples:
Grocery chains
Big-box retail
Warehouses / fulfillment
Food service with high volume
Night shifts, early morning shifts, weekends
Availability > credentials.
5. Apply In Person When Possible
For hourly roles, in-person beats online.
Steps:
Apply online.
Go in during non-peak hours.
Ask for the hiring manager.
Say:
“I applied online and wanted to introduce myself. I have open availability and I’m looking for consistent hours.”
This reframes you as immediately useful, not academically abstract.
6. What to Say If Asked Directly About Your PhD
Do not lie. Do not volunteer.
If asked directly:
“Yes, I completed advanced education, but right now I’m focused on steady work and reliability. I’m not expecting this role to turn into something else—I just want to do the job well.”
Say it calmly and move on.
7. Consider “Intermediate” Jobs as Well
If retail resists, look at:
Lab technician (even if overqualified)
QA / compliance assistant
Data labeling / annotation
Operations coordinator
Temp agency placements
Government clerical roles
Adjunct teaching (short-term income)
These often accept PhDs without panic.
8. Psychological Reframe (Important)
This is not a referendum on your worth or competence.
It is a temporary liquidity problem in a broken market.
Smart people survive by:
Reducing signaling friction
Matching incentives
Preserving optionality
That is not failure. It is strategy.
TWN - Actively Sabotaging my job hunt! BEWARE!
THE WORK NUMBER - Equifax Employee Verification. Go look it up. Right Now.
I have spent that last YEAR+ searching, applying and interviewing for a better job, I've submitted over 200 specially crafted -BESPOKE- applications, resumes and cover letters, and have done over a dozen multi round interviews........ and I'm just now hearing about The Work Number????
I have lived in a small town my entire life, up until 3 years ago when I moved into a bigger city, having to start from scratch after marrying my wife. That's hard enough, but add on the ghost job postings, AI filtering, and now THIS!
NOT ONLY am I furious about them having this data on me.... BUT IT'S NOT EVEN ACCURATE!
It's missing 2/3 of my professional career, with the only jobs listed being the stupid part time things I've done between real careers. My years in city government as an Administrative Assistant II for the IT Department? My years of employment in city government working as an Office Assistant II at Capital Transit? Nope.
Just King Soopers, and 2nd and Charles.
Oh look it Does have my old Circulation Manager role from 10+ years ago when I worked at a newspaper...... except the pay listed is $10!/hour less than what I was getting paid!
Looking at the history of who has asked, alllllllllll the recent positions I have been applying to have been listed as folks looking at this report. HOW is this legal? This website is actively sabotaging my work history. What about Equal Opportunity Employer, and our rights????
Please I beg you, go on and freeze your data on this website.
Jobadvisor
What you are experiencing is real, infuriating, and—unfortunately—common. Your reaction is justified, and you are not “late to the party”; most people only learn about The Work Number (TWN) after it has already harmed them.
I will be direct and precise.
1. What The Work Number actually is (and why it matters)
The Work Number is an Equifax-owned employment and income verification database.
Employers, background check firms, recruiters, and automated hiring systems routinely query it to “verify”:
Employment history
Job titles
Dates of employment
Compensation
Employment status
It is treated as a quasi-authoritative source, even though it is:
Incomplete
Frequently inaccurate
Employer-reported (not employee-verified)
Often out of date
Many companies rely on it instead of speaking to references or reviewing resumes in detail—especially large employers, government contractors, and firms using automated screening.
So yes: it can absolutely sabotage a job search.
2. Why your record is wrong (and missing most of your career)
This happens for several reasons:
Only participating employers report to TWN
Many government entities do not report consistently, or at all.
Municipal departments often use payroll systems that never integrate with Equifax.
Part-time and retail employers overreport
Kroger (King Soopers) and similar companies are heavy TWN participants.
They often remain the only visible employers in the file.
Compensation data is frequently incorrect
Hourly rates are misreported
Overtime, step increases, promotions, and salary bands are ignored
Historical corrections are rarely made unless forced
Older, irrelevant jobs crowd out real careers
Automated systems do not “weight” relevance
A decade-old retail role can appear more “credible” than a government career that simply isn’t in the database
In short: absence of data is treated as absence of experience—even when that conclusion is false.
3. Why this is legal (even though it feels deeply wrong)
This is the most bitter part.
The Work Number operates under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
That means:
It is legally classified as a consumer reporting agency
Employment data is treated like a credit report
Employers are allowed to use it for hiring decisions
However:
Accuracy is required
You have the right to dispute
You have the right to freeze
The system survives because:
Most workers don’t know it exists
Disputes take time and effort
Employers are rarely transparent about using it
This is not an Equal Employment Opportunity issue directly—it is a consumer reporting issue. Subtle but important distinction.
4. Why your applications and interviews are stalling
Based on what you described, this pattern is extremely consistent with TWN interference:
Resume shows strong government experience
Interviews proceed multiple rounds
Verification phase occurs
Employer queries TWN
Report contradicts your resume
Hiring manager never calls you back
No explanation provided
From their perspective:
“Candidate’s employment history could not be verified.”
From your perspective:
“I just got ghosted again.”
You are connecting dots correctly.
5. Immediate actions you should take (non-negotiable)
Step 1: Freeze your The Work Number file
This prevents employers from accessing it without your explicit consent.
You can unfreeze temporarily for specific employers if needed
This alone stops automated rejection based on bad data
Step 2: Download and save your full report
You need a complete copy for:
Disputes
Future explanations
Potential legal leverage
Step 3: File formal disputes for inaccuracies
Focus on:
Missing government employment
Incorrect job titles
Incorrect pay rates
Be factual, concise, and persistent. Expect resistance.
Step 4: Control the narrative with employers
Until this is resolved:
Proactively state during interviews:
“Some automated verification services contain incomplete data for my government employment. I’m happy to provide W‑2s, offer letters, or direct HR contacts.”
This reframes the issue before it blindsides them.
6. You are not paranoid, and you are not alone
What you are reacting to is the collision of:
AI-driven hiring
Data brokers
Zero transparency
Zero accountability
People with non-linear careers, public-sector experience, or career restarts after relocation are hit hardest—exactly your profile.
Your anger is rational. Your conclusion is correct. And warning others is reasonable.
7. Final recommendation
Yes—freeze your data immediately.
Then dispute aggressively.
Then assume that any employer using TWN is seeing a distorted version of you unless you intervene.
Recruiters - what's your take on submitting resumes twice?
Hi all, basically the title. For context, I've simplified my CV for ATS as I was using colums, colors, etc, and sent these applications all week. I took a CV seminar today and learned that even on my revised version, I had done layout formating that could kick me out of the ATS process, as it wouldn't be able to read the information properly.
The job is still open, so I want to send my CV again, but in a foolproof ATS formating. I'm thinking of also tweaking a few bullet points if I'm to submit again. Would that double the work of recruiters or would just show that I can make quick changes and adapt better to a software? What's your take on this? Thanks for your help :)
Jobadvisor
This is a common dilemma, and while it feels high-stakes, it’s actually a very manageable situation. Most recruiters won’t see this as "double the work"; in fact, they might not even notice until they are deep in your profile.
Here is the breakdown of how this plays out behind the scenes and the best way to handle it.
The Reality of "Double Submissions"
Modern Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) like Greenhouse, Lever, or Workday are designed to handle this. Here is what usually happens:
Auto-Merging: Most systems recognize duplicate emails or phone numbers and automatically merge the new file into your existing profile.
Version History: The recruiter will simply see two files (e.g.,
Resume_Final.pdfandResume_Updated.pdf). They will almost always click the most recent one first.The "Human" Element: Recruiters are busy. They aren't tracking how many times you applied; they are looking for a reason to book an interview. If the second resume is cleaner and easier to read, that is a win for them.
To Resubmit or Not?
Since you mentioned your current layout might "kick you out" or make the data unreadable, yes, you should resubmit. A "garbled" resume parsed by an ATS looks like a mess of symbols and misplaced dates to a recruiter. Sending a "foolproof" version ensures that when they finally open your application, they see your value rather than a formatting error.
How to Do It Right
If you decide to go for it, follow these steps to keep it professional:
Don’t Withdraw First: In many systems, withdrawing your first application can "blacklist" your email from reapplying to that specific req for a certain period. Just submit the new one.
Naming Convention: Name your new file clearly, such as
Firstname_Lastname_Resume_2025.pdf.The "Tweak" Rule: You mentioned tweaking bullet points. This is actually great! It shows you are tailoring your experience to the job description, which is exactly what recruiters want to see.
The Note (Optional): If there is a "Comments" or "Cover Letter" section, you can add a brief sentence: "Please refer to this updated resume for the most current version of my experience and contact details." ---
Does it show "quick changes and adaptability"?
In all honesty, a recruiter likely won't interpret a second submission as a sign of "adaptability"—they'll just think you found a typo or updated your info. However, it definitely won't be held against you. In the recruiting world, a readable, high-quality application always beats a "perfect" first attempt that the system couldn't parse.
Summary Table: Should you resubmit?
| If your first resume... | Action |
| Had columns, images, or tables | Resubmit. ATS often skips text inside these. |
| Had a minor typo in a bullet point | Don't bother. It’s not worth the clutter. |
| Had an incorrect phone number/email | Resubmit immediately. |
| Was just updated with better keywords | Resubmit. It increases your "match" score. |