Are There Lies on Your Resume Most Likely, Yes!

Are There Lies on Your Resume Most Likely, Yes! Are There Lies on Your Resume Most Likely, Yes! 2Maybe it’s because you’re applying for too many positions- and not getting enough callbacks. Or maybe it’s because you’ve been job searching for what seems like centuries (even though it’s only been about a month). That can explain why you’re starting to feel a little, well, desperate and might start “embellishing” your job application in the hopes of landing a job. For whatever reason, most people have lies on their resume. Honestly, you’re not alone. Are There Lies on Your Resume? Most Likely, Yes! According to research from HireRight, a candidate due diligence company, nearly two-thirds of job applicants (63 percent) have fibbed a bit on their job application. HireRight discovered that job applications with a little white lie sprinkled here and there has reached its highest level since 2011. Their findings about resume lies come from an account analysis of 100,000 checks from 26,000 applications. On their most recent quarterly Candidate Health Check report, they found that job candidates were likely to put down incorrect info in the education section of their resume, to the tune of nearly 39 percent. But it doesn’t end there. More than one-third (36 percent) of job seekers have lied about their employment history, and nearly three in ten (30 percent) have made false claims about their professional qualifications, skills, and memberships. And if you think that all of these resume lies only pertains to certain job seekers, think again. Even executive-level job applicants are telling tall tales, too- and the number has risen every quarter for the past 18 months. An estimated 25 percent of job applications for director’s positions contain inaccurate information. This equals a 40 percent increase in falsified job applications compared to the same time last year. While research found that most organizations were more trustworthy of the people applying for senior positions, it seems that anyone is capable of embellishing their job application. As a job seeker, what does this mean for you? For starters, it’s important to always tell the truth on your resume and cover letter. After all, it’s becoming much easier for employers to review your job application and confirm if the info on it is true or false. If a potential boss does discover that you’ve lied, you can not only kiss that job goodbye, but probably any chances of working for that company, both now and in the future. Also, you never know who your prospective boss might know; depending on the whoppers you’ve told on your job application, he could mention your name (and the lies you’ve told) to fellow colleagues in the industry, and you could create a bad reputation for yourself before you’ve even landed a job. Fight the temptation to stretch the truth. As tempting as it might be to stretch the truth a little, keep your job application as clean as possible. If some parts seem weak, find ways in which to strengthen them without lying. If you have employment gaps that you’re trying to cover, switch resume formats. Lacking skills? Try bulking them up by taking a course online or volunteering while you job search. There are ways to get around putting lies on your resume. Be smart, be honest, and stay strong during your job search, and you’ll soon find a position that you’ll love. Honest. Readers, do you have lies on your resume or cover letter? Have you ever gotten caught? Let us know what happened in the comments below!