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Sharing Economy / Gig Economy Why do people lie? We’ve been told to be honest since we were tiny children. We all know that lying is a big no-no, yet people do it all the time to get ahead – especially in the job search. Did you know that people lie on their resumes regularly? When the job search gets frustrating, it’s tempting to lie on your resume, but it’s never a good idea.
Honesty is the best policy. You’re never going to outsmart a seasoned hiring manager or recruiter. These people know the game and they know what to look for. They have systems in place to identify every lie on your resume. Lying on your resume is one of the biggest job search mistakes that you can make.
The next time you’re carefully crafting your perfect resume, make sure that you only give the facts and nothing else. Steer clear of any fiction and fibs. It’s tempting to exaggerate things or stretch the truth, but just don’t do it.
According to Monster.com, 34% of job applicants lie on resumes! That’s out of control. TheUndercoverRecruiter.com notes that “resume fraud is costing employers $600 Billion a year!” Lies are costly for both you and the employer.
According to an Infographic from BackgroundChecks.org, the most common things that people lie about on their resumes are skill sets, responsibilities, dates of employment, job title, academic degree, companies worked for, and accolades/awards. They note that 53% of resumes and job applications contained falsifications!
When asked about resume lies, employers say that:
- 51% of employers would automatically dismiss a candidate if they caught a lie on his/her resume
- 40% said it would depend on what the candidate lied about
- 7% said they’d be willing to overlook a lie if they liked the candidate
The odds are not in your favor. Lying is bad. There is never a good excuse to lie on your resume. Even if you are just one requirement short of being a perfect match to the job description don’t do it. If you lie on your resume, remember that there are consequences to your actions. You will likely get caught either through the background check process, reference checks, or tests during your interview.
What may seem like a simple lie can come back to haunt your job search in the future. Not only will it damage your professional reputation, but it can make it even harder to find a job. Lies are trouble. If you need help writing an honest resume that will land you the job you want, visit the JobMonkey Blog for all sorts of resume advice. With the right strategies in place, it’s easy to write a resume that’s lie-free.
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