Top Five Resume Lies

Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire Even though many employers conduct background checks, studies show nearly 30% of job applicants lie on their resumes in an effort to seem more employable. Here are the top five lies job candidates make on their resumes, according to CareerBuilder.  (Reuters)

Exaggerating Dates of Past Employment It can be difficult to explain employment gaps on a resume, so some candidates just choose to skip that hassle by fabricating their employment dates. Nearly 35% of job seekers' resumes have discrepancies related to past employment, according to CareerBuilder.

Falsifying the Degree or Credential Earned Whether it’s enhancing their education level or training, there is about a 20% discrepancy rate on resumes when it comes detailing education, according to CareerBuilder.

Inflating Salary History or Title Held Some under-qualified applicants may lie about job experience to seem more hirable and inflate previous salaries to negotiate better packages.

Concealing a Criminal Record About 11% of all background checks return with a criminal record, according to CareerBuilder. Candidates frequently avoid revealing their criminal past by changing their date of birth or spelling of their name. (Reuters)

Hiding a Drug Habit Close to 50% of Americans admit to having used an illegal drug in their lifetime, according to CareerBuilder, so it’s no wonder employers are increasingly requesting candidates take drug tests. Drug users most commonly attempt to beat a drug screening by tainting their urine through dilution, addition of other substances, or urine substitution. (Reuters)