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When it comes to resumes, telling a little lie is all too common. In fact, a new survey from online career resource platform Resume Genius found that 48% of job seekers have either lied or thought about lying on their resumes.
In the 2024 Lying on Resumes Report, based on an original survey of 1,000 managers, 29% of respondents admitted to lying on their resume. While 14% admitted to blatantly lying, 15% admitted to telling minor lies or making minor exaggerations.
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“Our results show that resume dishonesty is a common temptation, especially when job seekers feel pressured to appear more qualified or to hide career gaps,” says Geoffrey Scott, senior hiring manager at Resume Genius.
The two most common lies were covering up a career gap (31%) and exaggerating length of employment (30%). Meanwhile, lies about technology (24%) and language skills (22%) were also widespread.
Some of the most dishonest admitted to fabricating entire companies and positions.
Men were 1.5 times more likely to lie than women – mostly about job titles – and of all generations, Generation Z was the biggest liar. 56% admitted they have lied or thought about lying on a resume, followed by Millennials (50%), Generation X (40%) and Boomers (37%).
Eva Chan, senior career expert at Resume Genius, says that with today's automated systems, job seekers may feel like they have to lie to get ahead, but that's not a smart move.
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“While the pressure to impress employers can be great, lying on your resume is never the answer,” Chan said. “It is always possible to get caught, and the long-term consequences, such as a damaged reputation or lost job opportunities, are not worth the risk.”
Chan suggests focusing on your strengths and “showing that you're continuing your education” to stand out to employers.
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