Do you consider yourself an honest person? If you’re anything like most people, chances are you wouldn’t hesitate to answer that question with a resounding “Yes!”

Sure, you might tell a few white lies here and there, but you’re at least honest when it comes to the things that matter – right? But is that true when it comes to lying on your resume?

In this article, we’ll examine the issue of resume honesty and consider the many ways that job seekers lie on their resumes. We’ll also explore some of the consequences you may face for lying on a resume and examine common methods employers can use to identify lies. In addition, we’ll offer some vital tips you can use to avoid even the appearance of lying on your resume.

How common is lying on your resume?

Let’s begin by acknowledging one thing: lying on a resume is more common than it should be. In fact, a 2023 study found that roughly 70% of job candidates lie on their resumes. More than a third of those job seekers admitted they frequently include some type of false information in their resumes and cover letters. Moreover, 80% of workers admitted to lying in their job interviews.

Given those numbers, it’s only natural to wonder what those job seekers are misrepresenting to employers. As it turns out, people are telling all sorts of lies in their resumes, including:

Exaggerating job responsibilities
Making false claims about the number of people they supervise
Claiming awards and accolades they never earned
Listing job titles they’ve never held
Intentional misrepresentations about the duration of their employment
Claiming skills they don’t possess
Exaggerating about their job accomplishments
Lying about educational achievements and credentials
Changing work history to hide employment gaps
Hiding criminal arrests or convictions

There can be serious consequences for lying on your resume

Chances are you’ve heard the expression, “honesty is the best policy.” That basic principle is especially valid in any job search. In fact, there are a whole host of negative consequences you might experience if you opt to lie on your resume, in your cover letter, or during an interview. For example:

Employers who discover you’re lying on your resume will likely toss your application into the nearest trash bin and move on to the next candidate.
Even unintentional errors could cost you the job, especially if the employer just assumes you’re lying.
Employers who reject you for lying on a resume may not even let you know why you’re being rejected.
If lies are discovered after you’ve been hired, you could be reprimanded or even fired.
Those lies could harm your reputation in the industry and negatively impact your future career prospects with other firms.
In some industries, lying on a resume may even result in legal complications.

Will employers know if you’re lying on a resume?

If you think you’re unlikely to be caught lying on your resume, think again. Employers are always on the lookout for false claims and misrepresentations and have a variety of ways to verify the information you provide.

Of course, not all misrepresentations are equal. For example, if your resume achievements include sales numbers that are a little higher than they should be, many managers may give you the benefit of the doubt – especially if your claim is relatively close to the real numbers.

As a result, it's sometimes difficult to predict outcomes with any degree of accuracy. In some cases, a minor exaggeration added to make a resume look more impressive might go unnoticed. In other instances, that same inaccuracy could ruin your candidacy – and perhaps tarnish your professional reputation in ways that harm your career growth.

For that reason, the safest approach is to always assume employers will verify every piece of information you include in your resume. Be as honest as you can to reduce the odds of even being suspected of lying on your resume.

How employers can identify resume lies

You’re probably wondering how employers catch resume lies. Below are some of the most common ways employers can find out that you’re lying on a resume:

Internet searches. Hiring managers can find out details about your background by searching your social media profiles. If you’ve included a link to your LinkedIn URL on your resume, make sure the information on that site matches the details in your resume.
Background checks. Employers routinely conduct professional background checks to verify details about your personal history and potential criminal records.
Employment verification. Don’t be surprised if hiring managers contact your prior employers to verify your resume claims about job title, employment dates, and other basic details.
References. If the employer has asked you to provide references, there’s a good chance they plan to contact them to inquire about your work history and character. Make sure you use references who can provide honest information about you and the quality of your work.
Educational verification. Companies can easily verify your resume’s educational claims by contacting the institutions you list in your education section. Always make sure you’re accurately describing your educational credentials, including degrees and relevant coursework.
Skill assessments. If your desired job involves specific technical abilities, the employer may want you to take a relevant skills test to prove you have those qualifications.
Certifications and licensing. Most licensing agencies have online research tools where your name can be searched. In addition, an employer can try to contact the licensing agency to find out the status of your credential. Since licensing is often a statutory requirement, there's a high chance the company will have no tolerance for misrepresentation.

Is it ever OK to lie on a resume?

When it comes to the hard facts on a resume, the answer about lying on your resume is a hard No. You should adopt the “honesty is the best policy” approach to resume writing.

From academic degrees to certificates, professional licenses, criminal records, positions held, and technical skills that are required for the job, the best approach is to tell the truth. In fact, experts recommend that candidates double-check all key dates and details on their resume to be certain there are no unintentional mistakes (let alone bald-faced lies).

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Can you lie on your resume about work history?

Your work history will be one of the key things verified in a background check. Furthermore, you're likely to come unstuck if you claim to have experience in tasks that you're then unable to perform, so this is one of the worst possible places to lie on your resume.

Can you lie on a resume if you have a gap in your employment?

If your resume has a gap in employment, you're probably worried about looking like an undesirable candidate. This is especially true if you were fired from your last job.

Can you lie on your resume to cover that gap?
How about stretching the truth?

You should avoid lying even if you need to cover an employment gap. Instead, you can sometimes hide the gap by changing the layout of your resume and using YYYY on your dates instead of MM/YYYY.

Tips you can use to avoid lying on your resume

To be as honest as you can, it’s important to know how to avoid lying on a resume. The following tips can help to ensure you are providing accurate employment and skill information to prospective employers:

Always double check key skills, work history, and achievement details to avoid any erroneous information.
If you’re tempted to lie about your skills because you’re feeling a little unqualified for the job, try to focus on key transferable skills. By including relevant transferable abilities, you can often demonstrate that you’re capable of meeting the job requirements even when you don’t have the exact skills the role requires.
Don’t lie about employment gaps. Instead, focus on including information that shows how you used any time off to advance your career. For example, you can include training or certifications you completed between jobs, skill development, or even volunteer work.
Don’t make up achievements for your work experience section. Instead, take the time to really think about the type of value you’ve provided for employers in the past.

Chances are you can come up with two or three notable accomplishments that you can emphasize in your resume. Even if you don’t have a lot of achievements, try to emphasize a few that showcase your value as an employee.

Honesty is always the best policy!

The most important thing to remember about lying on a resume is that it’s something you should always try to avoid. Employers may or may not hire you if you’re honest – but they will certainly reject you if they catch you in a lie. Honesty really is the best policy and can help you to make the right kind of impression on prospective employers!

This article was originally written by Natalia Autenrieth and has been updated by Marsha Hebert and Ken Chase.