Candidates lying to 'stand a chance' in competitive market

An odd qualification here, a job title exaggeration there – some candidates are less morally restricted when it comes to lying on their CVs. But, in today’s age, where practically everything is referenceable, is it really worth the chance?

A recent report from APPII found that almost half of employees have lied on their CV in order to make them stand out against their peers.

Male jobseekers are decidedly more likely to fabricate their resumes to get noticed than their female counterparts, with baby boomers even more prone to a lie or two.

One in five employees have been caught out in their web of deceit, with the most common complaint being lying over specific qualifications for the role on offer.

“Clearly traditional CVs aren’t working for either candidates or employers,” said Gary McKay, MD at APPII.

“The fact that so many are having to resort to exaggerating truths when applying for new jobs just to try and stand out is proof that processes within recruitment can be enhanced.

“Establishing trust at the start of the recruitment process would help to rectify this.”

Another report from adzuna found that 48% of HR leaders admit to not always checking an employee’s qualifications.

After interviewing over 3,500 employees and candidates, 37% claimed to have lied on their resume, with 83% claiming their deceptions still haven’t been uncovered.