I’ve been in a bit of a tricky situation for the past six months. I was hired as a data analyst through a connection of my brother, primarily as a diversity hire. The job was more of a formality; I haven’t actually done any work during this time. The arrangement was that I would receive $500 a month just to be on the books, with a promise of $1000 once I started working full-time. However, after a month of showing up and doing meaningless tasks, I realized that the promised pay increase was just a lie. I decided not to continue under those terms and opted to stay at home instead. This is my first real job experience, and I have a BS in Medical Sciences and an MS in Biosciences. I’m now looking to pivot into a job in research or laboratories, as I have hands-on wet-lab experience. However, I’m at a loss about how to fill the gap on my CV for this data analyst role since I haven’t actually done any data analysis work. I’ve only used R Studio for some assignments in school. I’m considering embellishing my experience on my CV to make it seem like I’ve done more than I actually have, but I know that could backfire. I’m reaching out for advice on how to present this experience in a way that won’t raise too many red flags with recruiters. I’d also like to know if enrolling in online courses would be beneficial to bolster my knowledge and make me more appealing to potential employers. Any insights would be greatly appreciated!