Would I lie to you?

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If you’re out of work, your CV is one the most crucial weapons in your job-search arsenal. Along with a well written covering letter, your CV is part of your opening salvo in your campaign to land a job. A truly exceptional CV can open the door to boundless opportunity, helping you to that all important first interview. It’s you’re first opportunity to impress potential employers, an introduction to the best that you can be, and that makes it a very powerful document.

But with that power comes the very real temptation to embellish, elaborate, in some instances, to lie outright on your CV.

Independent research by employee verification experts Callcredit Direct in Britain reveals that more than one in ten 18 – 24 year-olds (12%) admit to lying on their CV to secure a job, and across all adults who admit falsifying their CV a third (33%) say they’ve  fabricated crucial information like academic qualifications.

Some of the key findings include:

• More than one in ten (12%) of UK workers aged 18 – 24 years admit to lying on their CV
• Of all adults who have lied on their CV, one third (33%) of workers say they’ve fabricated GSCE or equivalent qualifications with 7% making up or enhancing degree-level qualifications
• Of the people who admitted to exaggerating academic qualifications, the 25 – 34s and 45 – 54s are the age groups most likely to embellish their GCSEs/ O-levels (38%)
• Of all adults who have been untruthful, the most common lie is making up hobbies and interests (38%), followed closely by embellishing experience (35%)

According to Marcia Roberts of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation some of the most common CV fabrications include things like inflated job titles, increased salaries and benefits, length of service and qualifications.

“You’d be surprised to know how common it is to lie about qualifications and how stupid it is because it’s easy to check,” she warns. “Recruiters should never accept that someone has lost their certificates. You’d be surprised how many claim to have been to foreign universities when they don’t even exist.”

While lying on a CV is a pretty common phenomenon… that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a good idea.

“Lying on your CV is a very unwise move. Employers are wise to CV cheats. Even if you get your foot in the door, your job could be at risk at a later date,”advises CV expert Corinne Mills, author of ‘You’re Hired: How to Write a Brilliant CV’. “Most people are honest, but those who bend the truth simply need to get better at showing how their genuine skills and experience are an asset to future employers,” she said.

Corrine’s top-tips for honest CV success are:

• Relevance: Select skills, experience and personal qualities that match what the employer is looking for rather than including everything you’ve ever done.
• Evidence: Provide detailed examples and achievements to prove your abilities rather than just listing your job duties.
• Accuracy: Ensure spelling and grammar is perfect and all factual information correct.
• Presentation: Your CV needs to be clearly laid out and well-presented to create a positive and professional impression.
• Second opinion: It’s hard to be objective about your own CV so ask someone else to check it over for you as they can often see things that you can’t.