Most common lies told on CVs

A CV is a formal document that summarises your educational background, work experience, skills, and other relevant information. It is important to present yourself honestly when applying for a job and lying on a CV can have serious consequences. 

It’s important to remember that lying on a CV is unethical and can have serious consequences. Employers may conduct background checks or contact references, and if they discover that a candidate has lied on their CV, they are unlikely to hire that person. In some cases, lying on a CV can even lead to legal action or damage to a person’s reputation.

Here are some of the most common lies told on CVs:

Falsifying qualifications

Employers can very easily contact universities, colleges, schools or other education providers to verify any information you have included on your CV. Quite often when you are applying for jobs they will ask you to tick a box confirming that you give them permission to contact education providers and for information to be shared. 

Exaggerating job titles or responsibilities

Some candidates may exaggerate their job titles or responsibilities in order to make their experience appear more impressive. For example, someone who was a team leader may claim to have been a manager.

Stretching the length of time in one job

It may seem very tempting to add a few months (or even years) to your employment dates to make it look like you worked for a company longer than you did. Perhaps you can’t remember the specific date you joined so you just put down a rough guess? 

Remember, your previous employer will have a record of your exact employment date on your file. It will look a bit awkward if the interviewer contacts your old employer only to be given a different date. 

Including false references

Putting down your former manager’s name as a referee is perfectly acceptable. What isn’t acceptable is offering a fictional name, putting down your friend’s phone number and passing this off as your former boss. 

More Like This: What not to include on your CV

Hiding a criminal record

Employers will ask candidates to disclose any convictions to ensure their workplace is safe and to ensure candidates are legally permitted to carry out a job i.e to ensure someone employed as a driver is not banned from driving. 

Therefore, some candidates may omit information about their criminal record in order to avoid being disqualified from a job. 

What to do if you accidentally lie on your CV?

Whilst very minor mistakes such as spelling errors can simply be corrected, if the mistake is more serious, you may need to contact the employer and explain the situation. You can always provide an updated version of your CV with the corrected information.

It is important to take responsibility for any mistakes you have made on your CV. This will show the employer that you are accountable and willing to correct your errors.

Remember, mistakes happen, but it is important to take action to correct them as soon as possible. Taking responsibility and being honest about your mistake will show the employer that you are a responsible and trustworthy candidate.

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