When Honesty Disqualifies You — A Sharp Take on Sales Job Humor

When honesty becomes a disqualification.

Intro

Sales interview stories are already rich with sales job humor, but every now and then I stumble on something so absurd, I have to draw it. This cartoon came from one of those moments — when you realize some interviews aren’t evaluating your skills … they’re evaluating your creativity. I kept thinking: What happens when a candidate shows up with a résumé that’s actually honest? Apparently, in some places, that’s a red flag for sales postitions.

The Punchline

“Your résumé has no lies or exaggerations. You’re not fit for the Sales position.”

When I wrote this line, I laughed because I’ve seen versions of this play out in real life. Not literally, of course — no interviewer will ever say this out loud. But the sentiment? Very real. And that’s why the punchline lands the way it does.

Why This Sales Job humor Works

I love cartoons that expose contradictions, and this one flips a big one on its head. Sales roles preach integrity, authenticity, ethical persuasion … But they also reward confidence, charisma, and the occasional “stretch of truth.”

So instead of the usual critique —“Your résumé is exaggerated.” I thought it would be funnier (and truer) to say:“Your résumé isn’t exaggerated enough.”

It works because:

• It pokes at the unwritten rules of sales interviews

• It reflects the wild logic behind some hiring decisions

• It mirrors conversations I’ve heard whispered in office corridors

• It’s exaggerated… but the exaggeration feels uncomfortably familiar

  
  

As a cartoonist, these contradictions are my playground.

The Real-World Mirror

Let’s be honest — we’ve all come across résumés that read more like a trilogy than a CV.

People who:“Led,” “spearheaded,” “transformed,” “architected”— but the reality was closer to: “Attended a meeting and nodded meaningfully.”

And yet, these embellished résumés often get rewarded. Meanwhile, the person who quietly does the work — and honestly documents it — gets told to “think bigger” or “sell themselves better.”

This cartoon is my way of saying: Why is honesty treated like a lack of ambition?

Let's Stir The Comments

I love reading what people take away from these cartoons, so tell me:

• Met someone whose résumé belonged in the fiction aisle?

• What’s the most hilarious résumé exaggeration you’ve seen?

  
  

If this cartoon made you laugh — or made you second-guess your résumé — you’ll enjoy the rest of my career humor too.

👉 Explore more posts in the Career category for more corporate absurdities, exaggerations, and everyday madness I love turning into cartoons..