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A recent survey conducted by ResumeBuilder has quantified the prevalence of dishonesty in the hiring process. The survey, which polled 2,000 U.S. job seekers, found that 44% of Americans have admitted to lying during the hiring process — with many reporting professional gains from their actions.
The most common form of misrepresentation occurs on resumes, with 24% of job seekers acknowledging that they have lied in this section.Â
The most frequent lies include inflating years of experience (38%), exaggerating skills and abilities (34%), and misstating the length of previous job positions (32%).Â
In addition, 19% of respondents confessed to lying during interviews about their skills, responsibilities, or experience, while 6% lied on their cover letters.
Some job seekers have also misrepresented personal details, such as 9% admitting to lying about having a disability, 7% about their race or ethnicity, and 6% about their veteran status.
Despite the ethical concerns surrounding such behavior, many individuals who lied reported that it had worked in their favor. Among those who admitted to dishonesty, 36% successfully obtained a job, and 28% said they secured their current position through deceptive means.Â
Additionally, 64% of respondents believe their dishonesty helped them advance in their careers, while 25% felt it enabled them to negotiate a higher salary.
Stacie Haller, Chief Career Advisor at ResumeBuilder, cautioned that lying during the hiring process could have lasting consequences, including trust issues and reputational damage.Â
However, she acknowledged that the pressure to misrepresent oneself can stem from hiring practices that focus more on rigid qualifications than demonstrated skills. Haller suggested that companies emphasizing practical assessments may help reduce the incentive for dishonesty.
Looking ahead, hiring managers may encounter continued dishonesty in the application process, as 11% of current job seekers plan to lie in their applications or interviews in the coming year.
