Is It Okay to Lie About Extracurricular Activities on Your Resume in 2025

Standing out on your resume can feel like a high-stakes game. A ResumeBuilder survey reveals that 24% of Americans admit to lying on their resumes, with extracurricular activities like volunteer work or club leadership often embellished to showcase well-roundedness. But is it okay to lie about extracurricular activities on your resume? Spoiler: It’s a risky move. From background checks catching falsehoods to the psychological toll of maintaining lies, the consequences can derail your career.

This guide explores why job seekers lie about extracurriculars, the professional, ethical, and emotional risks involved, and honest alternatives to shine in 2025’s job market. Plus, take our quiz to check your resume’s honesty and discover recovery steps if you’ve already embellished.

Why Job Seekers Lie About Extracurricular Activities

Extracurricular activities—think volunteer work, club leadership, or certifications like CPR demonstrate soft skills like teamwork, leadership, and initiative, which are highly valued in today’s hybrid work environments.

The pressure to appear well-rounded drives some candidates to exaggerate. For example, a job seeker might claim they led a university club to highlight management skills or inflate volunteer hours to show community commitment.

According to a 2023 Forbes article, 70% of workers have lied on resumes, with Millennials (29%) most likely to embellish extracurriculars due to competitive job markets and resume gaps. In 2025, the rise of AI-driven hiring and emphasis on soft skills in remote settings amplify the temptation to stretch the truth, but the risks are steeper than ever.

Is It Okay to Lie About Extracurricular Activities on Your Resume? The Risks

Lying about extracurricular activities, whether through exaggeration (e.g., inflating volunteer hours) or fabrication (e.g., inventing a club role), carries significant consequences. Below, we break down the professional, ethical, psychological, and detection-related risks:

1. Professional Risks

Lying can jeopardize your career in several ways:

• Termination: If discovered post-hire, employers may fire you for dishonesty. For instance, a candidate was terminated after a LinkedIn audit revealed falsified volunteer hours, as noted in a 2024 Resumeble case study.
• Reputation Damage: Hiring managers share information, and a lie could blacklist you within an industry.
• Lost Opportunities: A falsified extracurricular could lead to scrutiny of your entire resume, costing you a job offer.
• Example: Claiming leadership in a nonexistent charity event could unravel during a reference check, signaling untrustworthiness.

2. Ethical Implications

Dishonesty undermines workplace integrity:

• Trust Issues: Lying erodes trust with employers and colleagues, impacting team dynamics.
• Personal Values: Fabricating extracurriculars conflicts with personal ethics, creating moral discomfort.
• Example: Claiming unearned charity work may secure an interview but could harm your credibility if you can’t discuss the experience authentically.

3. Psychological Impacts

Maintaining a lie takes a mental toll:

• Anxiety and Guilt: Fear of exposure can lead to chronic stress or imposter syndrome, where you feel unworthy of your role.
• Coping Strategies: Journal daily to process guilt, or seek career coaching (e.g., BetterUp, $65/week) to rebuild confidence.
• Example: A job seeker who lied about leading a club felt constant anxiety during interviews, fearing questions about their role.

4. Detection in 2025

Employers in 2025 have advanced tools to catch lies:

• AI-Driven Background Checks: Tools like HireRight and LinkedIn’s profile verification cross-check resume details with public records and social media. Forbes notes 70% of employers conduct background checks.
• Social Media Audits: Inconsistencies between your resume and LinkedIn (e.g., missing club roles) raise red flags.
• Reference Checks: Employers may contact organizations to verify volunteer work or certifications.
• 2025 Trend: AI sentiment analysis in video interviews detects hesitation when discussing extracurriculars, increasing detection risks.

Honest Ways to Showcase Extracurriculars

Instead of lying, use these strategies to highlight genuine extracurriculars and build a competitive resume:

5 Ways to Boost Your Resume’s Extracurricular Section Without Lying

1. Quantify Contributions: Frame modest activities with impact (e.g., “Organized a community cleanup, collaborating with 20 volunteers”).
2. Join Online Communities: Participate in LinkedIn groups (e.g., Marketing Professionals) to show engagement.
3. Earn Micro-Credentials: Obtain quick certifications like CPR ($50, Red Cross) or Google’s Project Management Certificate ($39/month, Coursera).
4. Volunteer Locally or Virtually: Use VolunteerMatch.org for remote opportunities (e.g., virtual tutoring, 5 hours/month).
5. Highlight Relevant Hobbies: Tie hobbies to job skills (e.g., blog writing for marketing roles demonstrates creativity).

Example: A candidate with one weekend of volunteering framed it as “Coordinated a fundraising event, raising $500 for a local shelter,” showcasing leadership.

Tip: Emphasize soft skills like communication or adaptability, which are critical in hybrid work settings, to make even minor extracurriculars stand out.

Gaining Quick Extracurricular Experience

• Virtual Volunteering: Platforms like VolunteerMatch.org offer remote roles (e.g., social media support for nonprofits).
• Short Courses: Enroll in micro-credentials (e.g., HubSpot’s Content Marketing, free) to add relevant skills.
• Community Involvement: Join local clubs or online communities to build verifiable experience fast.

What to Do If You’ve Lied About Extracurriculars

If you’ve already lied about extracurriculars, don’t panic—here’s how to recover:

• Disclose Minor Embellishments: In interviews, clarify exaggerations (e.g., “I overstated my role in a club; I was a member, not president, and contributed by organizing events”).
• Update Your Resume: Revise your resume to reflect accurate details, focusing on genuine skills (e.g., teamwork from group projects).
• Seek Career Coaching: Work with a coach (e.g., BetterUp, $65/week) to craft a truthful narrative and rebuild confidence.
• Address Psychological Barriers: Journal to process guilt or seek therapy (e.g., BetterHelp, $65/week) to overcome imposter syndrome.
• Example: A candidate admitted to exaggerating volunteer hours during an interview, emphasized their real contributions, and secured the job by demonstrating honesty.

Is Your Extracurricular Section Honest? Take the Quiz

Not sure if your resume’s extracurricular section is truthful? Answer these five questions:

1. Have you exaggerated your role in a club or organization (e.g., claiming leadership when you were a member)?
2. Are your volunteer hours accurate and verifiable by an organization?
3. Do listed certifications (e.g., CPR, project management) match your credentials?
4. Do your extracurriculars align with your LinkedIn profile or references?
5. Have you claimed activities to appear well-rounded without evidence?

Results:

• 0–1 “Yes” Answers: Your resume is likely honest. Double-check for minor inaccuracies.
• 2–3 “Yes” Answers: Review your resume for embellishments and revise to avoid risks.
• 4–5 “Yes” Answers: Revise your resume immediately and consider disclosing inaccuracies.

Next Steps: Book a free career call with a mentor to review your resume and ensure it’s honest and competitive. Schedule Your Free Call Now.

Comparison: Honest vs. Dishonest Extracurriculars

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it illegal to lie about extracurriculars on a resume?

Rarely, unless it involves fraud (e.g., falsifying a professional certification like CPR). However, it can lead to termination or lawsuits in regulated fields, per LawDepot.

What are common extracurricular lies?

Exaggerating leadership roles, inflating volunteer hours, claiming unearned awards, or listing fake certifications.

How do employers verify extracurriculars in 2025?

Employers use AI-driven background checks (e.g., HireRight), LinkedIn audits, and reference checks to confirm activities.

Can I recover from being caught lying about extracurriculars?

Yes, disclose minor embellishments, revise your resume, and focus on genuine skills. Career coaching can help rebuild your narrative.

Conclusion

Lying about extracurricular activities on your resume is a risky gamble, with professional termination, ethical dilemmas, and psychological stress outweighing short-term gains. AI-driven background checks and LinkedIn audits make detection easier than ever, especially in hybrid work settings where soft skills are scrutinized. 

through virtual volunteering, and leverage certifications to stand out. If you’ve already lied, disclose inaccuracies, revise your resume, and seek career coaching to recover.

Honesty is the best strategy in today’s job market. Take our quiz to check your resume’s honesty, download our Extracurricular Resume Template, or book a free career call with a mentor to ensure your resume shines authentically. Schedule Your Free Call Now. Share this guide to help others navigate 2025’s competitive job landscape.