About a third of people have admitted to fabricating details in their job applications when they’re trying to secure a new position. If you consider yourself an honest person, this may be quite alarming, especially if you’ve ever missed out on a position or a promotion to someone you think is under-qualified.
It’s important not to think that because lying is surprisingly common, that makes it somehow acceptable or a good idea. In fact, even though people may occasionally get ahead in the short term as a result of exaggerating their skills, this will tend to reveal itself later and there may be serious consequences.
For one thing, lying on paper is one thing, but you have to be able to back it up. There are several hurdles during a typical recruitment process designed to trip up anyone who is stretching the truth a little. When asked to provide evidence of your claims, you’re probably going to fail, especially if this is in an interview situation. People who aren’t nearly as confident in person as they sounded on their application are usually a red flag.
Even for people who so make it as far as getting a job after lying on their CV, the danger is that you’ll get caught out later as it slowly becomes clear that you aren’t really up to the task. To be in this position isn’t desirable, since you could end up getting fired (there’s never a good time for that to happen) and have a gap on your CV when you next apply for jobs. Depending on the extent of your lies, you could even be prosecuted in some cases.
Recruiters are finding it more easy than ever to find out the real trust about their prospective employees. When a candidate applies for a job and things they mention on their application seem suspicious, it’s very easy to snoop around and work out the truth in a lot of cases. Social media, references and other past employers might give employers the evidence they need to disprove your story, so it’s not worth the risk. Instead, we’d advise you to spend time developing your skills and earning a job that you’re better suited for.