Applying for a Job? Even a White Lie on Your Resume Could Cost You the Position
Written by
Josephine Nesbit
Edited by
Cory Dudak
Commitment to Our Readers
GOBankingRates' editorial team is committed to bringing you unbiased reviews and information. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and services - our reviews and ratings are not influenced by advertisers. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and our products and services review methodology.
20 Years
Helping You Live Richer
Reviewed
by Experts
Trusted by
Millions of Readers
Pandemic-era job hunting has been stressful. While the economy has been steadily gaining new jobs this year, there are still 8.4 million unemployed Americans, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and 37.4% of those have been out of work for at least six months.
Explore: 22 Side Gigs That Can Make You Richer Than a Full-Time JobLearn: 21 Careers That Are More Likely To Lead To Divorce
There’s a lot at stake for job seekers, and according to a new study by job search resource ResumeBuilder.com, 1 in 3 Americans admit to lying on their resumes. The most common lies are years of experience (46%), education credentials (44%), length of position held (43%) and skills or abilities (40%).
The majority of respondents (72%) who lied on a resume claimed to do so to increase their odds of landing the job. And while 80% of people who lied on their resumes were hired by the employer, there were career-altering consequences for many who were caught.
Related: The Top 10 Fastest-Growing Jobs in the Next 10 Years
Of those who were caught red-handed, 41% had the job offer rescinded, 18% were fired after starting and 12% were reprimanded by their new employer. A lucky 29% faced no consequences at all and were the most likely to lie about years of experience.
“Many employers use internal or external services to verify education, job experience or other certifications,” says Stacie Haller, a career expert with over 30 years of experience in staffing and recruiting. “Behavioral interviewing can also detect falsehoods or exaggerations by asking candidates very specific, detailed questions to verify the information they provided. And then there is the backdoor reference, where someone may be asked about you through your own network, without you ever even knowing about it. Lies may be uncovered that way, as well.”
While those who admitted to lying on a resume came from all different backgrounds, the survey found that high-earners were more likely to stretch the truth. Seventy-two percent of people who earned $150K or more lied about their education credentials.
More: Is an Agile Work Environment the Future Iteration of Hybrid Jobs?
Resume lies were also more common among those with the highest and lowest levels of education. Of those who never continued education beyond middle school, 41% claimed to have lied on a resume, as did 45% of respondents with postgraduate degrees. Men were also almost twice as likely to lie on their resumes compared to women, at rates of 42% and 22%, respectively.
Lying was also the most prevalent among IT workers, which Haller explained may be more common in IT fields because they are more competitive. The least likely to lie were healthcare workers and those working in education.
See: 10 Most Promising Careers for Gen Z WorkersFind: How to Shift Careers in a Changing Economy
“Lying on a resume or during an interview is never a good strategy. What you perceive as a weakness may not be to the hiring manager,” Haller explains. Considering the possible consequences when caught in a resume lie, telling the truth might be your best option.
More From GOBankingRates
- Fourth Stimulus Checks Are Coming From These States — Is Yours on the List?
- The 8 Best Deals From Costco’s September Coupon Book
- What Is the Next Big Cryptocurrency To Explode in 2021?
- When Social Security Runs Out: What the Program Will Look Like in 2035
Last updated: September 24, 2021
