Work experience, job duties, employment dates most common deceptions
More than nine in 10 (93 per cent) Americans know someone who has lied on their resumé, but only 30 per cent of those who lied ever were caught, found a survey by ResumeLab.
Respondents claim that they know someone who lied about their work experience (27 per cent), skills (18 per cent) and duties (17 per cent), found the survey of 1,051 people. However, only two per cent say they knew someone who lied about certifications.
Among those people, 30 per cent were caught, 35 per cent were not hired, 31 per cent were fired and 22 per cent were reprimanded.
However, only 36 per cent of the respondents themselves admitted to having lied on their resumé. Their top lies were about work experience (25 per cent), job duties (21 per cent) and employment dates (16 per cent). They also stretched the truth about their skills (15 per cent) and salary (10 per cent).
Who lies, and why?
Nearly six in 10 (58 per cent) of men and 41 per cent of women lie on their resumés.
Among industries, business and retail professionals are the most likely to lie (50 per cent) while education and health care professionals are least likely (30 per cent).
The reasons for lying include: being unemployed for a long period of time (37 per cent), they don’t think they will be or because they wanted a higher salary (both 18 per cent). Nearly one in five (17 per cent) lied because they were not qualified for the job.
Among those who didn’t lie on their resumé, 38 per cent say the act of being dishonest is enough reason while 31 per cent were afraid to get caught.
