Rejected 15x for being honest, got an offer for being fake

After 15 rejections where I told the truth on my resume, I cracked.

On app #16, I said screw it.

✨ I used AI to generate the whole thing.

✨ Copied keyword soup straight from the JD.

✨ Added fake tech stacks and exaggerated project scopes.

✨ Basically created a new person.

Same-day interview invite. Blew through 3 rounds. Even got compliments on my “deep knowledge.” I didn’t take the offer. I didn’t feel right about it. But I could have. That’s the part that shook me.

We’re in a market where the game is rigged for buzzwords over substance.

Where hiring managers want a checklist, not a person.

Where pretending to be qualified works better than actually being qualified.

So no this post isn’t career advice. It’s just a reminder of the sad state we’re all navigating right now. If you're struggling out there, it's not you. It’s the system.