Credit: Andrey Popov/Adobe Stock
One in four job applicants lie, exaggerate or provide inaccurate information to their potential employers, according to a study by career.io.
Among those who admitted to previous dishonesty, 23% reported exaggerating their responsibilities for a past role, the data showed, while 22% claimed to have worked at a place they had not.
“Many job seekers believe that if they can get through the initial resume screening and land an interview, they’ll have a real shot at impressing the hiring manager,” said Certified Professional Career Coach, Amanda Augustine. “That belief often leads some candidates to stretch the truth on their resumes. But even small exaggerations can come back to bite you.”
Male workers are more likely to be dishonest on job applications than their female counterparts, with 33.2% of men admitting to exaggeration compared to 21.1% of women. Meanwhile, 47% of Gen Z admit to lying, compared to 38.5% of millennials, 20.4% of Generation X and just 9.4% of Baby Boomers.
Gen Z percentages when asked about lying, exaggerating or providing inaccurate information:
- Work experience – 24.1%
- Job title – 17.6%
- Responsibilities – 29%
- Education, certifications, or courses – 11.4%
- Skills (technical, professional, or soft) – 23.5%
- Achievements – 10%
- References – 5.3%
- No, I have never exaggerated or lied (Exclusive answer) – 52.9%
Whether it’s inflating a job title, extending employment dates or claiming skills a person doesn’t fully possess, Augustine said “these fibs can quickly unravel during interviews, reference checks or background screenings.”
“While someone might be able to fly under the radar for a little while, being caught in a lie — even after being hired — can damage their professional reputation and ultimately cost them the job,” she finished.
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