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Lying on Resumes Isn't Worth It

 Job-seekers should think twice before writing lies on their resumes; stretching the truth may cost a job opportunity. Forty-nine percent of hiring managers, according to a survey by CareerBuilder.com that questioned more than 3,100 hiring managers and over 8,700 workers, say they have discovered a job applicant lying on his or her resume. Although almost half of managers found fictional details, only 8 percent of workers admitted to lying on their resume.

Thirty-six percent of hiring managers still considered candidates with false resume items, but didn't hire them. Only 6 percent of managers offered jobs to job-seekers with falsified applications.

Most applicants (38 percent) embellished their responsibilities. Eighteen percent of workers lied on skill set, 12 percent fabricated dates of employment, 10 percent wrote false academic degrees, 7 percent lied about previous companies and 5 percent fabricated his or her job title.

Hospitality, transportation/utilities and information technology had the highest occurrences of resume lies, while government jobs came in with the least amount of lying incidents.

"Even the slightest embellishment can come back to haunt you and ruin your credibility," says Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources.

"If you're concerned about gaps in employment, your academic background or skill sets, invention is not the answer. Use your cover letter strategically to tell your story, focusing on your strengths and accomplishments and explaining any areas of concern if needed."

Hiring managers provide the most unusual lies they discovered on resumes. Here are some instances:

— Claimed to have been a professional baseball player.

— Claimed to have worked for the hiring manager before, but never had.

— Claimed to be the CEO of a company when the applicant was an hourly employee.

— Listed military experience dating back to before he was born.

— Invented a school that did not exist.

— Claimed to be a member of the Kennedy family.

Haefner provides suggestions to create an unforgettable resume for the right reasons:

— Send resume early.
One-in-five employers say they are getting more resumes than last year. Apply to an open position early; sign up for job alerts that e-mails available job listings.

— Showcase skills and accomplishments to stand out.
Forty-three percent of hiring managers spend one minute or less reviewing a resume, and 14 percent read for less than 30 seconds.

— Write keywords.
Hiring managers may use electronic scanners to order candidates based on a keyword search. The keywords used most often (ranked from common to least frequent) include: problem-solving and decision-making skills, oral and written communication, customer service, performance and productivity improvement, leadership, technology, team-building, project management and bilingual.


To find out more about Amy Winter and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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