It's probably something many of us have done at some point in our career: massaging the truth or exaggerating benefits on our CVs. But what about an outright lie – is that worse? Is an 'embellishment' any different?
A recent survey showed that a whopping 71% of hiring managers have caught a lie on candidates' CVs. 'Caught' is the interesting word in that statement – because it doesn't mean that the other 29% were entirely truthful, they may just have escaped detection.
39% of the hirers questioned believe exaggerations and lies have increased post-recession, as job-seekers struggle to stand out in the competitive sea of candidates.
Two out of five managers would dismiss a candidate immediately once the truth showed its face, whilst 52% said this would depend on what it was the candidate lied about. 6% said they'd even keep a candidate on if they liked them, regardless of their truth-bending actions.
Overall, the report shows that employers are taking more time to look over candidates' CVs than they would have previously, though a quarter spend just 30 seconds or less perusing applicants' skills and experience. Says Rosemary Haefner, Vice President of Human Resources at CareerBuilder, 'Trust is very important in professional relationships, and by lying on your CV, you breach that trust from the very outset. Your CV doesn't necessarily have to be the perfect fit for an organisation, but it needs to be relevant and, most importantly, accurate.'
Is it the role of the recruitment agency website design to qualify what's said on an applicant's CV? Or do you believe it's a case of 'you've made your bed, now lie in it'? (No pun intended.)
There have been examples of untruthful CVs in the news recently - senior police officer, Mike Martin, was suspended from his job at Merseyside Police, and eventually jailed, after lying about his qualifications and experience. And in July, CIFAS, the fraud prevention service, sent leaflets to all universities warning graduates of the consequences of lying on their CVs.
A CV, after all, is just a guide; applicants should be prepared to back up all qualifications and similar awards/claims with written proof/certificates – something recruiters should routinely ask for. In some industries, it's easy to engineer a small practical test that ascertains whether an applicant is as capable as they've described.
Lying on CVs shouldn't happen but it's clear that it does, from the bottom to the top of industry, and throughout all other sectors. It seems simple - why not use the energy spent lying about a shortfall in skills/experience actually doing something about it?
Fast Recruitment Websites help their clients stand out from the crowd on their own merit. Contact us today on 01302 288591 to discuss your website design needs.
