I recently made a significant change in my career by switching jobs and, to be honest, I had to embellish my CV a bit to secure the new position. For the past 10 years, I’ve been stuck in a role that I never truly wanted. It was just a job that was available when I needed to pay the bills, and while I’ve become competent at it, I’ve always found it lacking in challenge and progression. My salary has also fallen behind what I know others in similar but more fulfilling roles are earning. I realized there are other positions in my broader field that align more with my interests, offering higher complexity, clearer paths for advancement, and better pay. I took the time to map out the transferable skills I possess and felt confident discussing the requirements of these more desirable roles without being disingenuous. However, every time I attempted to be upfront about my experience, I faced rejection—often in the form of ghosting or condescending feedback from recruiters who seemed to think I was unaware of the differences in roles. It felt as though I was being told to stick to the path I had chosen, despite the fact that my initial choices were driven by necessity rather than passion. After numerous frustrating experiences, I decided to stop leading with my full, honest history. Instead, I tailored my narrative to fit the mold that employers seem to prefer. The interview for my new position went well, and I was able to demonstrate my understanding of the work. I received an offer and am now in a much better role, with improved pay and a significant reduction in my overall misery. I understand the risks of this approach, but I’m not looking back. I now have real experience in the type of work I want to pursue, and I plan to continue presenting it that way. The job market has shown me which story it rewards.