Claiming anything that you are not is bound to get you caught. Avoid fudging facts in your resume.

Getting a matching job can be quite challenging. If your competitors are cheating with fake resumes, it can make things even tougher. 

According to the survey reports of 2019 State of the Recruiter conducted by Monster, 85% of hiring managers revealed that applicants exaggerated their skills and other details on the resumes. In another Checkster survey, it was found that 78% of candidates exaggerate their achievements, stating that they have mastery in some specific skills or they have worked with some company for longer than reality. 

While companies check and crosscheck candidate credentials, some candidates continue to lie and get away with it. But, why do candidates lie in their resume? 

The most obvious answer is because they believe that they may not be good enough, or fair enough, to measure up to others. 

However, if you lie anything on the resume, you have to skate along the edge. 

Whether you are blatantly lying or fabricating, getting caught means your career is doomed. Today, with advanced technology, social media, and tracking services, it is easier for employers to know your truth.

Most Common Lies On Resumes

• Education Credentials: It is a very common tendency to stretch on the education embellishments or credentials. For instance, some candidates claim to have taken a 6 months course whereas it was a 3 months course. 

Rather than fudging academic credentials, think of what else you could add to the resume demonstrating your qualification and education. Add any other professional courses, development, awards, honors, or additional coursework that might be relevant to your professional qualification. 

• Date Mismatch: Candidates often deceit the date in a quest to cover up their employment gaps. They usually stretch dates for a few jobs only to cover the time gap. They may even fabricate an interim position. 

Sometimes, it is a good strategy to inform employers about your career gaps. If you have taken some time off to handle a project, or raise your family, explain the circumstance in the cover letter. Make sure you stress your commitment to getting the job. 

• Exaggerating On Skills: Some candidates present a laundry list of their technical skills. However, using a program does not mean you are an expert. Likewise, taking a language course does not mean you are fluent in that language. 

List only those skills that you can demonstrate on spot. 

How Lies Are Caught on a Resume?

Do not be fooled to think that you could lie to potential employers. While it may be true that job seekers get away with a little exaggeration, but eventually it boomerangs. 

Hiring managers have their tools like background checks, online research, reference checks, social media checks, and others, to get hold of you. 

If you have applied for a skilled post involving coding, designing, and writing, expect potential employers to test you before hiring. The assessment validates your experience and behavior depicts your values. 

Likewise, social media research, preferably LinkedIn is the right place to find professionals and validate their qualifications. Of course, there is Google to track you down. 

Final Word

Job candidates are not perfect. If the resume portrays perfection, there must be something wrong. Hiring managers take this as an alert and scan such resumes.