More than 1 in 3 hiring managers admit to lying during recruitment

Lying to job candidates during the hiring process is apparently a common practice, as 36% of hiring managers admit to this practice in a new survey from ResumeBuilder.com.

The poll, which surveyed over a thousand hiring managers, found that six per cent of those who said they lie during recruitment do it "all the time."

Another 24% said they lie "most of the time," while 45% said they do it "some of the time."

The deceit mostly takes place during the interview, with more than 75% of those who lied admitted to doing it during this stage of recruitment. Another 52% said the lie is at the job description, while 24% said it's in the offer letter.

Why do recruiters lie to candidates?

But what exactly do these hiring managers lie about? According to the survey, 40% said they lie about the role's responsibilities. Others said:

• Growth opportunities at the company (39%)
• Career development opportunities (38%)
• Company culture (31%)
• Benefits (28%)
• Company commitment to social issues (27%)
• Financial health of the company (26%)
• Compensation (24%)
• Turnover rate (22%)
• Job location (remote or hybrid) [20%]

According to the hiring managers surveyed, they lie to "protect sensitive company information" and "cover up negative information about the company." Other reasons they cited include:

• To attract job seekers, some benefits are exaggerated
• To deliberately say things that will please the candidate
• To make the job sound better than it really i
• To attract more qualified candidates

How lying during hiring can impact employee retention

Stacie Haller, chief career advisor at ResumeBuilder.com, slammed the practice of lying to job candidates as it could undermine an organisation's integrity.

"Honesty not only upholds an organisation's reputation but also is critical for cultivating success for both the company and the individuals it seeks to attract," Haller said in a press release, and deceit can also lead to bad outcomes for the organisation and candidate.

In fact, the report found that while 92% of hiring managers said the candidate they lied to accepted the job offer, it lead to massive retention issues.

Among the group, 55% of them said the employee quit after they found out they had been lied to during the hiring process. Another 14% said the employee quit "within one week," 35% said the employee left "within one month," while 31% said the employee departed "within three months."

Haller warned that failing to communicate honestly and transparently can also damage the "broader hiring ecosystem."

"By treating candidates with the same professionalism we expect from them, we not only preserve the human aspect of recruitment but also contribute to a more respectful and equitable job market for everyone involved."