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[forum admin]

Employers and recruiters are being warned to double check information in job candidates’ CVs, as new research reveals that, as job competition rises, more people are being tempted to lie about their qualifications.

The research from Backcheck, a background checking firm, found over a 50% increase in lies told on candidates’ CVs in recent months. They compared the six months between September 2008 and March 2009 with the same period in the previous year and found there was a 54% increase in lies about candidates' employment history and a 50% increase in lies about education history from people coming from the banking sector.

In the retail sector, over one third of candidates’ CVs included false references.

Chris Hawkins, Assistant Vice President of Operations at BackCheck, said:

"In a recession candidates want impressive CVs, but sensible employers are those who are checking that what is on them is true."

Earlier this year, research from the Chartered Institute of Educational Assessors (CIEA), suggested that one in three people lie on their CVs. Common fibs included inventing exam qualifications and citing work experience that never took place. However, the most common thing is to exaggerate a degree qualification.

[Gota]

I was just reading a story about how important it is to have a fantastic CV, and then I come across this one about more and more lies on a CV.

I assume the two are more related than they should be?

[Malcolm]

I would've thought that if there's this much pressure to have a perfect CV and with jobs seemingly few and far between that they jump to adding lies to one's CV would be very tempting.

[Bob]

I never have but I have been tempted.

[Jonathan]

If it was a harmless white lie. Ok. Ultimately it's when you are doing the job that you prove your worth. If you need a little extra help getting in the door I don't see what's wrong with that.

[Gota]

Surely that's cheating though? It's not fair to the other job candidates?

[Malcolm]

To lie on a CV to me is the same as lying in an exam. If you get a job based upon a lie or a series of lies you don't deserve that job.

[Robin Tetley]

That's about it indeed. I can understand people desperately wanting a job and can almost understand why somebody would lie on their CV but just because so many people seem to be doing it that doesn't mean it's harmless.

[Bob]

Hmmmm. You have to do what you have to do to get a job if you are desperate though. Who is this really hurting? Except maybe yourself if you get found out?

[Robin Tetley]

Surely other candidates for the job who have been honest on their CV. It's like cheating in a race.

[Malcolm]

I agree for everybody to get a fair crack of the whip the playing field must be level. If one person lies although it may be understandable it's like blindfolding another runner in the race. I don't think this will ever be stopped as people are usually so desperate to get a particular job that they will do just about anything. I admire that drive it's just a shame it puts others at an unfair disadvantage.

[Bob]

But for all you know everybody at an interview may have lied slightly on their CV so it's never going to be a fair playing field as you say. How do we know? Maybe if we all lie a little or exaggerate that would be this fair playing field.

[Gota]

That hardly seems right. There's no point in cheating if it isn't going to help you get ahead  .

[Robin Tetley]

Is that a joke? I think it probably was.

[Jonathan]

I'd do anything to get a job if I was sure I could actually do the job in question.