You remember the story of Pinocchio, the puppet who wanted to become a real boy. Whenever he would tell a lie, his nose would grow longer and give him away. The moral of the story is simple: You may think you are fooling others, but when you lie it is as plain to them as the nose on your face.

In my firm, I’ve seen a rash of Pinocchios over the past year or so. For reasons I understand but don’t condone, candidates seem unable to resist the temptation to embellish their resumes, cover letters and portfolios with claims of education, achievements and experience they don’t have. In most cases, it does not take a lot of digging or checking references to uncover the truth. What might have been a promising application quickly gets moved to the rejection pile.

You may think you are helping yourself by “exaggerating” your credentials. But take it from me, don’t do it. There’s nothing wrong with casting your accomplishments in the best light, as long as they are truly your accomplishments. Taking credit for something you have not done is another matter. The rationale that everyone pads his or her resume is a lame excuse for unethical behavior. It won’t cover up your Pinocchio nose.

When you are caught in a lie, you not only eliminate your chances of being considered for the position, you damage your reputation and potentially your career. Don’t risk it. Sell yourself on your own merits. They will take you much farther than a phony resume.