Software developer discovers his friend's entire tech career and CV is built on "fictional" experience and fake references, questions how he's never been caught, whilst making tons of money: 'He knows his limits and makes sure it's work he can deliver'

Author image for Emma Saven
Emma Saven
Nov 27, 2025 8:00 PM EST

Where does one draw the line between corporate sugar-coating and straight-up fiction? Definitely don't ask this software developer because he certainly has no clue! He's built his career on completely fake 'experience and references,' yet has somehow managed to become more successful than the majority of his coworkers and friends…How? Well, let's just say his method goes against everything our parents taught us about honesty growing up! 

Establishing a system where he was able to create an illusion to all those around him, while simultaneously climbing he corporate ladder. Would you argue he's the man who inspired the story of Suits' Mike Ross…or simply a man who got lucky? When he would get caught or fired, he would just remove those jobs from his resume…as if they never even happened. Eventually, learning his capabilities and limits to ensure he could deliver his company's expectations without getting caught. What we fear is how often this occurs in the work world. Do we ever truly know the people with sit next to us for eight hours a day, or is everyone holding onto their illusory masks for dear life? 

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  • Software development is a difficult job, requiring a certain level of intelligence, so he must have had a sufficient amount to start! You can't just decide one day that you want to become an aerospace engineer and successfully launch a ship into space the following Monday. Skills take time to develop, and software takes time to understand…So we're not claiming that he doesn't know what he's doing, but he definitely didn't get there in the most ethical way!

  • "He adds a few extra years of experience, throws in some impressive- looking projects, and even drops the name of a big tech company"
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    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • I discovered that my friend's entire tech career is built on a lie.

    I was having a beer with a friend of mine last week. We're both software devs, but he does contract work and makes an insane amount of money.
    via Routine-Dot6593
  • So eventually I just asked him straight up how he manages to land these awesome, high-paying gigs back-to-back like that.
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  • His secret? He told me his CV is basically a work of fiction. He adds a few extra years of experience, throws in some impressive- looking projects, and even drops the name of a big tech company he never worked for.
    via Routine-Dot6593
  • And the craziest part is, he's a solid coder, so he's smart about it. He only goes for roles that need solid work done, not super complex architectural stuff.
    via Routine-Dot6593
  • He knows his limits and makes sure it's work he can deliver. So I asked him the obvious question: 'Have you ever been caught?' He laughed and said yeah, a few times in interviews.
    via Routine-Dot6593
  • But it never mattered. He'd just move on and get another offer a week or two later.
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  • He's never been caught on the job itself. Oh, and his references? All fake - just a few of his buddies.
    via Routine-Dot6593
  • CA An SUI Ac be JOB APPLICATION APPLICANT INFORMATION RESUME JOB APPLICANT Last Name Street Address Interview Tips
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    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • He even told me that if he gets rejected for any reason, he'll just erase that job from his CV and act as if it never happened at all.
    via Routine-Dot6593
  • The result is he makes incredible money, has the best work-life balance I've ever seen, and takes a month or two off between gigs to just chill.
    via Routine-Dot6593
  • And when he's ready to work again, he sends out a few applications and the cycle starts all over.
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  • Honestly, I'm not going to lie, hearing all this made me question my own approach to my career.
    via Routine-Dot6593
  • Many of the comments suggest that this is far more common than we think, and honestly, that's what's upsetting me the most.
    via Routine-Dot6593
  • It really made me step back and rethink how I prepare for interviews, because clearly the whole system is more corrupt than I thought.
    via Routine-Dot6593
  • I am trying to practice my interview skills to remain calm and respond professionally. My friend told me that he uses this tool to better structure his answers, instead of saying whatever.
    via Routine-Dot6593
  • If the whole system is corrupt, why not find ways to make things easier for ourselves?
    via Routine-Dot6593
  • Independent-Try4352 I'm due to retire next year, and following many years in multiple industries, I can confirm the vast majority of high earners and senior 'leaders' are in fact total blaggers.
    via Independent-Try4352
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    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • peasantking It's a lot more common than you think
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  • crannynorth Nothing new. It's called fake it till you make it. Lots of people done this. I had multiple jobs, some did well some I got fired from it. The jobs I got fired, I don't listed in my resumes. I still get job interviews but recruiters and hiring manager never ask or sometimes why I left the job. They don't care, they only focus on the positives.
    via crannynorth
  • liquidpele This is basically every major consulting firm, except the big guys never even deliver anything lol.
    via liquidpele
  • MathematicianOwn7539 It's tech. So long he can deliver, employers care less - like we hire a handyman to fix something at home.
    via MathematicianOwn7539
  • jmlozan Pretty common in tech believe it or not.
    via jmlozan
  • Appropriate-Voice407 I wouldn't go as far as he does, but I do think it's a strategic move. I also make << small adjustments >> in my CV, but 90% of my CV is legitimate. For example, I got my current job while I was unemployed, but I presented myself as still employed at my previous role. That place was so toxic I had to leave without something lined up. The truth is, some people really did the big-brand jobs they list, but they're not necessarily better than others who come from smaller or less
    via Appropriate-Voice407

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