Is There a Lie on Your Resume Probably!

Is There a Lie on Your Resume ProbablyIs There a Lie on Your Resume ProbablyIn a recent study The Dishonest Tradition of Fudging the Facts on a Resume, Grad School Hub discovered that many, many job seekers are engaging in the nefarious practice of resume lying. A whopping 78 percent of people admitted that their resumes are misleading, and at least 50 percent have at least a small amount of misleading information on their resume.So why are job seekers lying on their resumes?Well, a few reasons factor into the equation. Fearing ageism, some candidates leave off graduation dates so that they can appear younger. Working mothers who wish to return to work may fudge dates in an attempt to cover up large gaps in employment. And some recent grads may raise their GPAs or even award themselves with extra honors they didnt earn. People may change dates in an attempt to hide the fact that they were fired from a job or spent part of their career job hopping.And which job seekers are most likely to lie on a resume?Both male and female job seekers tell lies, but which sex is the biggest fibber?In general, men lie twice as much as women do- on average, men tell six lies per day and women tell three. For example, men will rate their past job performance 30 percent higher than it actually was, while women will rate theirs only 15 percent higher.And if youre wondering where the whoppers, um, lie on a resume, it is actually scattered throughout the resume. People lie about everything from inflated salary claims (40 percent), to inaccurate job descriptions (33 percent), to altered employment dates (29 percent).What are the consequences of telling a lie on a resume?Lying comes with consequences. According to the study, 36 percent of the time resume padding is discovered, the employee is fired. And for those who admitted that their resume was not 100 percent accurate, 27 percent lost their jobs. And even if you dont lose your job, there can be other ways in which your lie can cost you. Not only can you damage your personal (and professional) reputation, but lying is considered a big character flaw that can result in embarrassment for you- as well as a loss of job references. Bigger penalties can be possible termination (despite years of loyal service) or even legal action.While it may be tempting to make your resume as perfect as possible, its not a good idea to do it at the expense of lying. After all, theres a very good chance that your lie can be uncovered, and you could lose your job- and your credibility. So make the most of your past work experience, your accolades, and your skills, and let them shine on your job application. That way, your true work (and not a lie) will speak for itself- and get you the job you truly deserve.Readers, have you ever lied on your resume? Did you get caught? Let us know about your experiences in the comments section below