The answer is an obvious, resounding NO! But a recent survey from The Society of Human Resources Managers reported that 53% of the resumes and job applications they reviewed contained false information. Now that information could be fraudulent degrees, altered employment dates, false references and inflated pay claims. And in an online survey done by AOL Jobs, 26.5% of respondents stated that they either have lied or would consider lying on a resume.
Obviously Human Resource departments are aware that this type of inaccurate information finds its way on to resumes. There was actually a recent post on HRMOnline with tips for human resource professionals on how to catch resume lies throughout their hiring process. This post isn’t meant to give you any ideas on how to outsmart HR, but to instead inform you on the ways you might be caught if you decide to add some fiction to your application:
Remember Social Media
As a society we now document our lives and share it with the world and anything posted on your profiles is fair game for a hiring manager. You might get caught if your resume says that you went to a certain university, when you actually went to another. Even if your professional profiles carry the lie through, your personal profiles could be accessed and out you.
A recent survey from The Society of Human Resources Managers reported that 53% of the resumes and job applications they reviewed contained false information
You could also find yourself in the position where the hiring manager calls the university you claim to have a degree from to validate.
Pop Quiz
This isn’t something new but may be growing in popularity. You might find yourself being given an assignment or a test to prove that you actually have the acumen you claim to have. Several colleagues and I myself have had to do presentations, business plans, and even assignments to show computer skills as part of the interview process; don’t get caught pretending to know how to do something you don’t!
Early Morning Interviews
Ethic researchers at Harvard and the University of Utah have found that people are more likely to be unethical later in the afternoon. So scheduling you in the morning may be an attempt to keep you honest (or it is just the best time of day for the interviewer!)
As a last thought I am going to leave you with Cracked’s list of the 6 most impressive resume liars. But remember, as impressive as they might be, they were caught! Honesty is still the best policy.