Ex-Google Employee Adds Mia Khalifa Expertise to Resume—Gets 29 Job Interviews in 6 Weeks
Flipping the Script on Resumes: Why We Support Exaggerated Claims
In a bold and humorous experiment, Jerry Lee, a former Google employee, challenged conventional wisdom about resumes by adding outrageous claims to his CV. With a prestigious background at Google, Lee decided to see how far his resume could take him, even when it was littered with absurd and inappropriate entries. Among these claims were “expert in Mia Khalifa” and holding a fraternity record for “most vodka shots in one night.” The result? Lee received 29 interview invitations in just six weeks, even from reputable companies like MongoDB and Robinhood.
This experiment illustrates something many job seekers and employees already suspect: companies often pay less attention to the content of a resume than to the labels and previous affiliations. While Lee’s background at Google likely piqued interest, his experiment highlights a deeper truth about the modern hiring process: it’s often skewed by biases, such as prestigious job titles or corporate experience.
Why Exaggeration Can Be Justified
This brings us to an important point: job seekers should feel empowered to take control of their own narratives, especially when companies themselves are not always transparent. Many organizations misrepresent job descriptions, responsibilities, and company culture during the hiring process. In this context, embellishing a resume is not just a cheeky exercise—it’s a way to flip the narrative and level the playing field.
Here’s why we support claims like this on CVs and resumes:
1. Companies Aren’t Always Honest
Employers frequently advertise job roles with descriptions that don’t fully reflect the actual duties or work environment. Once hired, employees often find the reality of their roles to be quite different. If companies are stretching the truth about job expectations, why shouldn’t job seekers enhance their resumes to make themselves stand out?
2. Experience is About Impact, Not Just Labels
Just as Jerry Lee demonstrated, recruiters often care more about a candidate’s previous employers and polished job titles than their actual accomplishments. Adding creative (albeit exaggerated) claims can highlight a candidate’s ability to think outside the box. This doesn’t mean candidates should flat-out lie, but rather that they should present their experience in ways that grab attention and spark curiosity.
3. Recruiters Skim, So You Need to Stand Out
As Lee’s experiment showed, even outlandish claims didn’t stop recruiters from inviting him to interviews. This reflects a deeper reality: recruiters often skim resumes, looking for buzzwords and titles that stand out. If your resume looks like everyone else’s, you may never even get a chance to explain why you’re the right person for the job.
4. Hiring is a Game—Learn to Play It
Job seekers often feel they are at the mercy of hiring managers, but the truth is that hiring is a two-way street. By using humor, creativity, or even exaggeration, job candidates can shift the dynamic in their favor. Just as companies use flashy marketing to attract talent, job seekers can use creative tactics to get noticed.
Lessons from Jerry Lee’s Experiment
Jerry Lee’s experiment shows that the job market can be surprisingly lenient when it comes to bold claims—if you know how to play the game. His takeaway? Keep your resume clean and organized, but don’t be afraid to push boundaries to make an impact. This approach encourages job seekers to craft their resumes around what truly makes them stand out, rather than focusing on traditional norms that may not always reflect their full potential.
As Jerry Lee humorously put it, “It’s not always about where you polished your skills—it’s about the skills you bring to the table.”
The takeaway from Lee’s experiment isn’t to flat-out lie on resumes but rather to learn how to present yourself in the most compelling way possible. In an environment where companies themselves often fail to live up to job descriptions, it’s time job seekers take control of the narrative, using humor, creativity, and clever tactics to make sure their resumes stand out.
