How far would you be willing to go to get the career you want? A new study released by performance management software company StaffCircle has revealed that 32% of respondents resorted to lying on their CVs or as part of the recruitment process when going for job openings, of which 25-34-year-olds were the age demographic most likely to do so.

The most common lies in employees’ CVs

The study revealed the most common lies that employees told on their CV and the most common lies were:

1. Work experience

51% of the respondents said they covered their lack of experience with lies. When a candidate discovers a job posting that asks for years’ worth of experience, they might feel compelled to lie. Artificially inflating your experience could help you land a spot in an interview. 

2. Skills

The second most common lie revolved around skills. 38% of the 1,500 people surveyed admitted they lied about their skills. By lying about their capabilities, it may enable employees to look better than they actually are and that they have the required skills to perform in the job role that they have applied for. 

3. Previous salary

26% of people had even lied during the interview stage. They told lies about their previous salaries. At the outset, it can seem like an odd thing to do. But candidates could feel compelled to lie about their previous salary simply to land a better salary in the new job. 

Did the lies help?

The study revealed interesting facts about the advantages of lying. 93% of those who admitted to lying did not get caught. 40% of them still worked on the job they had lied to get!

42% of employees viewed lying during the recruitment process as beneficial. They felt the lies gave them an edge and could have helped them land a role they might not have otherwise gotten. The majority of those who admitted to lying didn’t agree with this, however, 58% of them felt that being untruthful didn’t provide them with advantages. 

Candidates should also consider the consequences of lying. 14 of the 1,500 surveyed said they faced legal action after getting caught. Even the smallest of lies could ruin an employee’s reputation and harm them on the job ladder. 

Lying on your CV might seem tempting in the modern job market, but lies don’t lead to automatic recruitment success. Even if you obtained the role, your job satisfaction could suffer. You might find yourself in a position you’re not fit to hold.

Are employees likely to keep lying?

Employees aren’t necessarily scared to keep lying. 63% of the surveyed said they would lie in the future or, at least, be seriously tempted to do so. 62% said they would lie to get a remote role. 

The lies reveal the recruitment process isn’t as thorough as many might think. 68% of those that lied felt the interview process was either ‘very thorough’ or ‘quite thorough’. The fact that the majority of the liars didn’t get caught tells a different story. 

Companies need to start focusing more on the recruitment process. HR needs to:

          • Perform a rigorous background check to detect candidates that maybe lying about their experience or previous salary.
          • Conduct competency-based interviews to ensure candidates’ skills are what they claim them to be. 
          • Use performance management software when the candidate is part of the team to ensure the person is the right fit for the role.

The findings show companies need to pay more attention during the recruitment process. If liars are free to roam without punishment, then both the employees and employers suffer. Your dream job is not worth the lies. If you’re the right fit for the role, you should get it without resorting to half-baked truths!