Forum: buddhism.stackexchange.com
Tags: <karma><five-precepts><ethics>
Title: Is lying at a job interview breaking a precept?
Question: Since lying is not really directed at a person, can it still be harmful? I have had multiple jobs before when the companies I worked for had no issues lying to me(on a organizational level)   I can see how lying(when done successfully) can make myself believe I am something I am not and hence inflate my ego but what if this is not the case and the lying is only done with a sense of wanting to get a position and work hard and achieve something?

Answers:
sents: text: Causes of False Speech
text: The root causes of false speech are greed, hatred and delusion.
text: Greed is the root cause when false speech is used to obtain material gain or status for oneself or someone dear to oneself.
text: Hatred is the root cause when false speech is used to cause loss and bring harm and suffering to others.
text: Delusion is the root cause when it is used neither for one's gain nor to cause loss and harm to others, but for the sake of enjoyment such as lying for the sake of a joke, exaggeration to spice up a story, or flattery to please others, etc.
text: Lying to get a job falls under the 1st category.
text: So yes, it does break the fourth precept.
answer_details: author: buddhism.stackexchange.com/users/111/Sankha Kulathantille
score: 20
sents: text: If you have intention to deceive, you know what you are going to say is false and then say it then it is lying.
text: In a job interview you might be asked questions you are not very sure about.
text: Making an intelligent guess in those instances in fine.
text: Not attempting may look negative or as a lack of confidence.
text: Also interviewer will not expect you to know everything but an attempt will be appreciated.
text: Much like in an exam.
text: Lying about your experience may not be fine.
text: Also spin doctering / white lies with a intention to deceive is not fine.
text: Otherwise putting a positive spin is fine.
text: Facing an interview is an art in itself which you can master without breaking your ethics and morality.
answer_details: author: buddhism.stackexchange.com/users/295/Suminda Sirinath S. Dharmasena
score: 8
sents: text: In addition to the excellent answers already given, it's important to also keep in mind the effect of one's actions on oneself.
text: So even if the lie you told had no ill effect on the interviewer or company for which you were applying for a job; (say for example, they didn't hire you anyway), you still know you stated something untrue and that stays with you.
text: We work to keep our sila good (by following the 5 precepts) because of the good it does for our own minds.
answer_details: author: buddhism.stackexchange.com/users/143/Robin111
score: 6
sents: text: Lying occurs when four elements are present.
text: a.
text: The speaker must not be mistaken about what he or she wants to say.b.
text: The speaker must have the intention to deceive.c.
text: The lie must be consciously pronounced.d.
text: The hearer must be deceived.
text: Associated with lying are all attempts to twist the truth by deceptive means and the concealment of the facts in order to cheat people.
text: source: Treasury of Precious Qualities , commentary by Kangyur Rinpoche
answer_details: author: buddhism.stackexchange.com/users/2478/Jeffrey DeLeo
score: 1
sents: text: I listened to a talk by Ajahn Punnadhammo some days ago.
text: In here he talks about why the Buddha had put a great emphasiz on right speech .
text: Ajahn Punnadhammo says that by using the speech faculty we can directly input dhammas into other beings mind-stream.
text: So by misusing the speech faculty (by lying for example) we can directly input delusion into other beings mind-stream.
text: That is a heavy kammic thing to do since delusion is what binds us in Samsara.
text: When he said that i really understood the depth of the 4th precept.
answer_details: author: buddhism.stackexchange.com/users/2424/Lanka
score: 1
sents: text: is there ever a time to not look and think carefully about an actual situation? suppose one were the sole provider for a large family and lost their job.
text: one looks and looks and finally an opportunity arises.
text: and the person can actually do the job.
text: and do it well.
text: but!
text: a degree is mandatory.
text: the person lacks that.
text: what to do?
text: see if they can be hired by demonstrating ability might be on choice.
text: if jobs are.scarce and the family has begun to starve tho?
text: me, I would accept that some negative karma would be incurred.
text: I would accept some delay on reaching enlightenment.
text: I would lie.
text: if hired, I would get the degree quietly, over time.
text: there is no absolute thing to do.
text: it depends on the situation. to save the lives of others, especially others who are children or otherwise dependant on you, I don't see how I could make any choice that ignored that (but again, a situation could arise in which I acted differently).
text: to me it seems the essence of Buddhism is awareness.
text: generalizing or adhering to preconcieved ideas of what to do and not do seems a bit robotic and not a way to further the habit of actually percieving.
text: it also gives no room to listen to ones inner voice, intuition or whatever you want to call it, which I've always understood to be also perception just not always at the level.of conscious intent.
answer_details: author: buddhism.stackexchange.com/users/5065/iquanyin
score: 0

Summary of the answers:
We work to keep our sila good (by following the 5 precepts) because of the good it does for our own minds.  So even if the lie you told had no ill effect on the interviewer or company for which you were applying for a job; (say for example, they didn't hire you anyway), you still know you stated something untrue and that stays with you. Moreover, if you have intention to deceive, you know what you are going to say is false and then say it then it is lying.
It is not acceptable for a person to intend to deceive. However, facing an interview and presenting oneself in the best possible light is acceptable. If someone tells a lie with no ill effects, that person still knows that he said something untrue, which stays with him. We follow the precepts to keep our sila good and because of the good it does for our minds. However, it may depend on the situation.  Some people may find it acceptable to lie to protect children or people who are otherwise dependent on them.