How accurate is your CV?

Candidates applying for jobs at finance firms are increasingly likely to lie on their applications, research suggests.

A study of 3,000 CVs by the Risk Advisory Group showed a quarter contained incorrect or false information.

The biggest lies involved academic qualifications, previous jobs, gaps in employment and directorships.

Have you 'embroidered the truth' when compiling a CV? As an employer, have you always checked academic qualifications and references of prospective employees? Send us your comments.

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This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

The following comments reflect the balance of opinion we have received so far:

I think that I'm rather reticent and conservative when presenting my skills Darren Stephens, Whitby, UK

I must be one of the very few people who actually go the other way. I think that I'm rather reticent and conservative when presenting my skills, although I do tailor my CV to specific jobs. Judging by the posts on here, more fool me. Having said that, I don't have any sleepless nights about being found out, do I?
Darren Stephens, Whitby, UK

Lying on your CV can be a criminal offence, claiming that you have a degree when you do not, and thereby persuading an employer to give you a job when they were only looking for graduates, or getting a higher salary than you would have got if they had known you were a non-graduate is obtaining a pecuniary advantage through deception, and the employer who was mislead would be entitled not only to sack you but to go to the police.
Anon, Worcestershire

I regularly omit my first 10 years of jobs. Simply because if I didn't, I'd never get another one. Ageism amongst employers is so rife, it is virtually impossible for executives who aren't in the top 2% of high flyers to get a job after the age of 50. I don't look or behave in the way the average 35-yer-old would assume a 58-year-old behaves. Why should my CV be binned because it doesn't fit into idiotic frames of reference?
Sue, London

I've worked for a few bosses who must have lied on their CVs. Seriously, one boss claimed to have been head of IT at a firm I had dealings with, and I know he was never there!
Alan, Farnborough, Hampshire

We forget how often companies lie Gary Gloc, Burnley

We forget how often companies lie. If, at the interview, you ask why the last person left it is odds on you will not get a truthful answer. If someone is given a job because their father or mother is a director, the company will never admit that is the reason for the appointment. If a temporary job is being made permanent and outsiders are competing with the temp, the company will never tell you 'we've appointed the person who's already doing the job on a temporary basis'.
Gary Gloc, Burnley

I do quite a bit of interviewing for my company. I end up offering jobs to about 5% of candidates, 20% aren't suitable for a variety of reasons, but a staggering 75% are discarded very shortly into the interview after it becomes apparent that lies had been told in either their CVs or in the interview itself. I find it very annoying as it is a waste of my time, so I make very sure they understand why they are being rejected. At least most of them have the good grace to be suitably embarrassed at being caught out. Suffice to say I have never lied on my CV - after all, who would want to work with someone they can't trust?
Jan, Guildford, UK

Next question is, how accurate are the job adverts? I would say a large portion of them glamourise what the job is just to get people to apply for it.
Andrew, Baltimore, MD, USA

My CV is in the process of being updated, but I wonder how relevant some of my qualifications are these days. I left school in 1982, so my O-Levels are obsolete; my secretarial examinations were taken using a manual typewriter, and having been employed by the same company for almost 20 years I have not taken any of the modern equivalents. I have had on-the-job training, and have the necessary skills and experience to do any job I apply for, I just don't have the paperwork to prove it.
Jo Kavanagh, Essex

I'd rather feel good about deserving the job I get rather than being a liar Tom, Dorking, Surrey

Everything on my CV is 100% accurate. I'd rather feel good about deserving the job I get rather than being a liar. Also, I have fired people for lying on their CVs even when they have been capable of doing the job. I don't want liars working for me.
Tom, Dorking, Surrey

The average CV is embroidered to the same degree as the average job advert! Employers should shoulder some of the responsibility here. Conducting good job interviews is a specialised skill, yet most of the interviews I've been to have obviously been conducted by whoever happened to be available, regardless of knowledge or ability.
Chris, Bristol, UK

Actually it shocked me to discover that at least 95% of my friends and the people I know lied on their CV in one way or another. I've never lied on it and frankly if I ever hired someone and discovered they had lied on theirs I would sue them for everything I could for wasting my time and my company's resources.
Paul Charters, Sutton, UK

Last year I worked with someone who had to leave after just two weeks in the job because their references didn't check out. So don't think you won't get caught out doing this sort of thing because you can.
Paul, Poole

Ageism and anti-children policies are rife in the world of employment Lucy, London

I wouldn't make up facts for my CV, but I might omit some, such as my age and family status. Whatever the law says, ageism and anti-children policies are rife in the world of employment.
Lucy, London

I have never lied on my CV, but I gather I'm in the minority. As a result, I do find it difficult to get an interview, but when I do get an interview, I get the job nearly every time. Because to the employer, it stands out that finally they have an honest person. Another reason to tell the truth is so that you don't get a nasty shock if you manage to get a job by telling lies and find you don't actually have the knowledge you need to do the job.
Rob, Letterkenny, Ireland

Well, as a recent graduate I have been trying to perfect my CV at the moment but I keep getting the old 'no experience/over qualified' answers for every job I go for - even the school/college leaver type positions. I'm tempted to forget I ever did a degree just so I can get off jobseekers and pay my rent.
Kate, Birmingham, UK

It all goes back to judging people on their CV and their interview. An interview is not the good way to select a potential candidate; they should have to produce an example of their work or a trial period before selection. It is all to easy to fabricate a CV and skate an interview yet not be ideal for the job.
Stephen McDermott, Glasgow, Scotland

Putting an outright lie on your CV, such as lying about your age, is dangerous Bob, Oxford, UK

Putting an outright lie on your CV, such as lying about your age, is dangerous. If it is found out, you will likely be sacked and we all know instances where that has happened. Not telling the whole truth, or positioning failures as successes, however, is not only acceptable but is an important skill employers expect of applicants. If your CV sets off any alarm bells you have already failed and you will not even get an interview.
Bob, Oxford, UK

In order to get your foot in the door, one is sometimes driven to be somewhat less forthcoming with the truth about one's qualifications. Hence, we have probationary periods which allow for either party to terminate the employee-employer relationship with the minimum of fuss.
Henry Hoye, Milton Keynes

While not being inaccurate, I produce a CV tailored to the application it is being used to support. Not cheating, but it helps.
David, Cornwall, UK

It will always be a big mistake to lie on your CV. Sooner or later you will get caught out, whether that's in the interview, workplace or by somebody checking your references. Having said that what you put into/leave out of your CV is up to you, so you have the opportunity to be selective and paint the best picture possible.
Mark, Swindon

I chopped 10 years off my CV and lied about my age. Didn't feel a single twinge of guilt as I thought it quite justified to counteract the ageism that's rife in the financial sector and IT. Luckily I look 10 years younger than I am, so could pull it off!
Richard, UK

I have always assumed that potential employees "enhance" their CV's Al, UK

I have always assumed that potential employees "enhance" their CV's, just as potential employers enhance descriptions of their working conditions and career prospects. It's called the human condition.
Al, UK

When working for a large multi-national I was asked to look at a couple of prospect's CVs. I was much surprised to find one with claims of work done for a client that I had done! It was word for word lifted from my CV. He didn't get the job.
Mike, Leeds, UK

A guy I used to work with nearly got the sack a few weeks after starting his job because the employers checked his references and discovered he'd completely falsified one of them. The previous employers he'd cited had actually refused to provide him with a reference because he'd been so bad! The only reason he was able to keep his job was because he'd already signed his contract, so really it was the company's fault for not checking sooner.
JJ, Swansea

When I applied for my current job, I was halfway through an MA that I never actually completed. Competition for my job was steep, and while I'll never know if it was the imminent achievement of this extra qualification which won me the position, I've never been asked about it since.
Anon, Coventry England

I once submitted my (accurate) CV via an agency, only to find out that they had embellished it to send to the employer. Fortunately, I had a copy of my version with me at interview to explain the discrepancies between my answers and what they were expecting.
Keith L, Chelmsford, UK

I have never lied on my CV, but I have however lost out to people who, it turned out later, lied on their CV. I know at present we have one junior employee who has lies about their experience and it is obvious in their work. Employers need to follow up qualifications, references, etc before offering the position to a candidate.
Anon, England

I've never lied but I have definitely worded certain duties in a different way but I've never added anything I hadn't actually done and which I wouldn't be able to do if asked. In the opposite way to Raj, London, my biggest problem is most employers think I must have lied because most people my age haven't reached the position I have, especially without a degree or any other professional qualifications. Most new colleagues are often shocked to find out I am at least equal if not more senior to them yet only 27!
Jennifer, Netherlands, ex-UK

Never lie about your abilities and experience; this is the one area where you are sure to fail and be found out Caroline Hill, London, UK

I am (thankfully) retiring next year having been in my current job for nearly 3 years after years of temping following redundancy. It was hard to get a job due to ageism. Although I tailored my CV for every application, it had been "embellished" for many years, but these were related to time spent overseas and 20 jobs compressed to 5 over a 27 year period. It is only the last 10 years where the CV is absolutely true as I knew no-one would be interested in references more than 10 years old. It's a dog-eat-dog world, your CV has to stand out and has to make the employer want to see you. Any fact you "stretch" has to be basically true or you will be caught out. Never lie about your abilities and experience; this is the one area where you are sure to fail and be found out.
Caroline Hill, London, UK

I know a guy who works in sales who is really benefiting from the degree he did at university. The only thing being that whilst he was at university for 4 years, he never actually finished a degree. I would be very surprised if he was caught out after being in employment for many years and he has just got himself a very good job. Whilst he is a good friend and I am happy he is doing well, my husband has worked very hard to learn various skills he needs for his chosen profession and has worked hard in the jobs he has had but is really having difficulty getting a good job because he doesn't have a degree and doesn't pretend he does.
Anon, UK

It is in fact illegal to check on the factual content of a CV without the giver's permission. Of course if you attain a position through misrepresentation, you could find yourself liable later on.
Marty, UK

Is it not an art to fill your CV with lies and get a job that you want? The Art of CV writing teaches that skill. I've come across a number of CVs that are full of lies, but I could easily find it out when the candidates faced me for interviews.
Albert P'Rayan, Chennai, India

Employees lie on CVs and employers lie about jobs advertised, and the benefits expected. Honesty is a thing of the past, get over it.
Chris, UK

Part of the problem is that someone can grossly exaggerate their skills in their CV, but as long as they can talk there way through the first 3 months, it's then almost impossible to get rid of them!
Nathan Hobbs, Luton, UK

There is no point in lying, you'll get caught out in the end Steve, Chesham

Although the initial report specifies the financial industry, I find it kind of amusing that a majority of the contributors to this thread are specifying instances in the IT sector, which I also work in. What I believe is that there is no point in lying, you'll get caught out in the end - it's just not worth it. And yes, in the IT Contract market, I have personally caught out several at interview who had glowing CVs but at the merest hint of technical questioning break out in a cold sweat. Having said all that, there are eloquent, inventive ways to rephrase CV's and to sell yourself to the job market that don't involve lying. Far better to do that than lie.
Steve, Chesham

I can confirm that CV fabrication extends beyond just the finance sector. This year I was contacted by the admissions tutor for a post graduate course and trainee position leading to an accredited qualification in one of the health service speciality professions. To the relief of the admissions tutor I was able to confirm that at least one of their applicants was indeed a recent graduate of ours, and that the reference I had just provided was genuine. Apparently they were completely inundated for applications for these positions, and the majority of applicants were falsifying their references and/or academic qualifications. The end result here was that only applicants whose credentials could be verified in a short space of time were considered. The sheer number of applicants making spurious claims about their qualifications or experience was putting the staff who were trying to filter he applications under a great deal of strain.
Paul, Durham, UK

Can't say I've lied on a CV or misrepresented myself either. However, I've seen job ads that were complete works of fiction. I've applied for jobs that sounded like higher-level positions that I could certainly fulfil only to find that the job descriptions have been grossly embellished and, in fact, would a step back for me.
Gareth, Bermuda

I have to agree with Peter from Nottingham: There's hard information and soft information. My hard information is very accurate on my resume (CV). I graduated from university in a given year and worked for the listed companies in the listed years. That's very definite and can't be changed. But my descriptions of duties show rewording for marketing purposes. For example, my first position out of university, I was part of the Finance Dept because they didn't have a Computer Dept. I bought the computers, read the manuals and showed the co-workers how to use them. On my CV it sounds better "presided over the transition from paper systems to computer systems". Writing programs becomes "software design" and asking questions of the customer becomes "customer interaction for specifications and delivery".
Peter, La Marque, Texas

I have been singularly unqualified for every position I have held Very Anonymous, UK

I failed to get a degree. At my first job interview, I lied about the results having not yet been released, and was offered the job. Nobody ever asked to see my certificate, so I let it go. That was 20+ years ago, and I have never been required to produce proof for any subsequent job. I have been singularly unqualified for every position I have held, yet my ability and competence have enabled me to reach a very senior, international position. Furthermore, some of my friends have used me as a referee, even though we have never worked together - one of my drinking buddies even attained a director position through a glowing reference I gave for him. In life, you have to take what you want, not wait to be given. Sorry to remain anonymous, but it is very necessary in this case.
Very Anonymous, UK

My CV is accurate. When I was a contractor that actually got be a job I said up front that my experience was several years out of date, and then in interview asked them questions that they couldn't answer about the job, and they decided that as my "out of date" knowledge was still better than theirs they wanted me. I saw other contractors who lied about their experience, putting down 5 years of a subject they'd never done. Many of them got caught out in interview questions, or when the employers found that they couldn't do the job. It may pay in the short term to lie, but they got bad references and I got good references, truth pays in the end.
Chris C, Aylesbury, UK

I'd be too afraid to be found out to lie on my CV. The problem as I see it is that recruiters never check what you write on a CV. Having been in a position where I had to choose candidates submitted by recruitment firms I've seen first hand how they don't question anything submitted to them. I've had to call the recruiters and ask them not to waste my time with people who obviously couldn't do the job. Once we got the CV's of the more modest candidates it turned out that they were the ones that were more qualified for the jobs.
Christine, UK

I wouldn't seek to condone lying on a CV and I personally have never done it, but given that prejudice exists in society, coupled with the fact that often if one did explain a certain situation in detail on a CV, you would be almost certain to not get a job. I for one have gone through a period of my life when I have suffered serious depression. As a result, I have been out of work for a few years and have not been doing much. If however, I were to detail this on my CV, I would be almost certain not to get most of the jobs I've applied for. So, am I lying but not including this information? I simply didn't mention it.
William van Zwanenberg

Why go through the pain of starting a job and then being thrown out? Jonathan Lunt, West Sussex

To lie on a CV in the financial sector is foolishness. Most large banks employ detective agencies to verify qualifications, work history and education. You will be found out so why go through the pain of starting a job and then being thrown out?
Jonathan Lunt, West Sussex

I work in Human Resources for a large local authority in London. I can say that not a week goes by without me finding a CV with a university in Nigeria that doesn't exist or a business in Ghana that has never traded. I'm the only one that checks which makes me wonder how many of the people who actually work have not been honest and got away with it.
Paul Chalings, London

Mine is very honest and accurate, although slightly complex. The thing is, business today couldn't work without lies and misrepresentations, most of us would run a mile from an employer if they told us the truth about a position. There are exceptions, certain sectors cannot do that, but overall, many people lie to a certain extent simply to keep the wheels of commerce rolling. A CV is a tool, for initial assessment only, not a very good guide to a persons life or talents.
Jennifer Hynes, Plymouth, UK

When I was an undergraduate, I lied on my CV to get a job waiting on table in a restaurant - I said I had already had a similar job when I lived overseas. Knowing the boss would never be bothered to check such a distant reference, I was employed. But I worked hard and proved myself a valuable member of staff. I later went on to become manager of that restaurant, and don't regret my actions. Now I don't take such great interest in experience when recruiting a new member of staff. If they can carry 3 plates across the restaurant in two hands, at speed, then they're OK in my book!
Anon, London, UK

I am in my late 50s, fit, intelligent, willing to give my utmost to the job in hand, but do not have many paper qualifications (apart from what I studied for after leaving school) because it was not a thing in my younger days - how you presented yourself was the important thing, and how you carried out your duties after being employed. Not the fact that you could absorb facts and figures like a sponge. Does 'honesty' have a meaning these days ? I do not think so, you only have to read the media each day to see.
Paul green, London UK

I am having to "under-lie" - I am 29 - have a string of professional qualifications, degree and MBA; but when I apply for jobs - I am too qualified as I am up against people with just work experience. So, In order to move up - I need not to state all my credentials! The only conclusion I come to is that the guy (or gal) interviewing me feels threatened.
Raj, Tower Hill, London

I work in IT and over the past few years have sat at both sides of the interview room. You can polish and embellish a CV to the heart's content. The reality is that an employer will have made their mind up about whether they want to employ you or not within 30 seconds of meeting you. The CV is simply a means to an end - a way of getting you to the interview stage and, for some people, this means exaggerating a little. As a result, nearly every interview I've attended or conducted has incorporated a technical assessment of some sort to weed out the obvious 'fakers'.
Hans, Chessington, England

The only way can sell myself is to exaggerate or bend the truth Phil, Bristol, UK

I have recently graduated and looking for jobs at the moment. I don't have any experience and can't get a job because employers want experience. The only way can sell myself is to exaggerate or bend the truth.
Phil, Bristol, UK

In IT, job adverts frequently ask for five years' experience with a technology that has only been around for three. They also require specific buzzwords, but HR doesn't understand that other buzzwords imply the same or closely related skills and discount those CVs. I've never lied on an application myself, but it's certainly common for applicants to tweak their CV in these cases. Since the practical impact of the changes is zero, it doesn't bother me. Lying about past jobs or academic records is another matter, of course.
Chris, Cambridge, UK

What really is the "truth"? How do you define quantitively how much skill you have - what if you have 3 months of hard-core experience in a field, and someone else has 2 years of on-and-off experience? Also, what if you are capable of learning new stuff much quicker than others? We need to remember that the CV is only the first filter. It's followed by interviews and other tests which actually measure your competence for the position. So in summary, it's quite okay if people buffer their resume just to get an interview.
Emkay, MD, USA

Yeah, but how many job descriptions are 100% honest and accurate?! Quid pro quo.
Martin Hargreaves, York, UK

From an HR manager's perspective, the CV is just one step in the selection process. If it has been embellished, the truth should come to light either during the interview process, performance testing or reference checks. If such a procedure is followed, the CV serves as little more than a "door opener"; providing a prospective employer with an opportunity to screen out clearly unqualified candidates before proceeding further in the selection process. From an ethical standpoint, of course lying on your CV is wrong - however, you'll be easily found out if your prospective employer does their homework and evaluates you properly.
Anne Harris, Prince George, Canada

Let's have a survey about employers who lie about jobs Ken, London, UK

Never lied on my CV but left out plenty of what might be seen as dull or lacking "get up and go", particularly with interests I couldn't afford to keep up on the dole. However, after two redundancies there were two ten-month periods of unemployment so it's good to hear employers here firing liars on the spot - serve them right - but let's have a survey about employers who lie about jobs.
Ken, London, UK

While being economical with the truth is understandable, downright lying is deplorable. It leaves a very bad taste in your mouth when you find out that less scrupulous people think it's ok to invent GCSEs etc. I worked so hard to achieve my qualifications, even at the most basic of levels and am proud of what my hard work attained, even if nowadays they are less relevant as people look to my degree instead.
Eleanor, Birmingham

I interview job applicants for my company and as I will be working with these people I am very confrontational when interviewing. With IT a lot of the job is based around technical question and by systematically working through a CV it's quite easy to spot a lie and then hone in for the kill. If someone is believed to be lying during the interview stage they won't be trusted and they won't get the job, it's as simple as that.
Martin, England

I have never lied or misrepresented myself on a CV. However, I have had several jobs where the company outright lied about the job they were offering, working conditions, etc. It is all sunshine whilst in an interview, but it always turns out the company left something important out, or simply didn't tell the truth about the job. It works both ways; if it is illegal for us to "doctor" our CVs, then it should be illegal for companies to misrepresent themselves and the work offered to prospective employees.
Douglas, Manchester, UK

Most people embellish when they don't have as many academic exams, so that they can get a job within the white collar companies. It isn't that they can't do the job, just that they wouldn't get the job otherwise. Life experience should count for more. But it doesn't always.
Meady, Northampton

To an engineer, 2+24; to a mathematician the answer probably depends on your definitions of "2" and "+". To an accountant the answer is whatever you want it to be, and therefore it does not surprise me if these people put on their CVs what they think employers want to read.
Phil, UK

The way people come across on a CV and in an interview often does not give a fair indication of how they would be to work with. I'll bet a lot of people understand this from both sides of the table. And as one emailer said, it works both ways. If a job is important enough then both sides should take enough time to do the due diligence on background and, where appropriate, do some sort of trial.
Ray Robinson, London

A good interviewer can spot the lies and/or inconsistencies on a CV Stella, London, UK

There is indeed an "art" to CV writing. I, being a former HR Manager, have helped friends and family portray themselves in the best possible light without lying on their CVs. I have also uncovered lies on resumes during interviews. A good interviewer can spot the lies and/or inconsistencies on a CV. It is up to them to uncover the truth during an interview and follow up with reference checks.
Stella, London, UK

I am currently self-employed but am looking for normal employment. So far, the fact that I have been working for myself for the last year seems to be putting off employers. It seems inevitable that in order to get a job (or even to the interview stage!), I am going to have to 'downplay' my self-employment and perhaps even swap it for a gap year I might have had.
Emma K, London

Employers promise great earnings potential and career advancement opportunities. How many people ever receive these things? If my CV is embellished a bit so as to give me better opportunities, what's the harm?
Nate, London, UK

I have never lied on applications, yet my friend has every time he has applied. He is dangerously under-qualified yet has been taken on to do very sensitive work. Not only does he lie about his qualifications and experiences, but he even goes as far as to lie about his referees, giving his friends new titles so that he can ensure glowing commendations - he knows well that the people who are qualified to give recommendations wouldn't do so if their lives depended on it.
M Ingram, Birmingham, England

Certainly the CVs aren't the final outlook of candidates applying for a post. Nowadays ethics count secondary to undue advantages in every profession. So, it's the employers' duty to check genuineness of applicants before recruiting. To provide the firm's with viable employees, HR these days conduct detailed nitty-gritty test of applicants.
Shib SenChaudhury, Calcutta, India

I have to admit that my CV is not too honest. I left school at 16 before sitting my exams after a very nasty divorce with my parents. I awarded myself 8 GCSEs and 3 A-Levels. The problem is though that you tell one lie and you need to follow it on with even more. I have to say though it has never done me any harm. If I got caught out I'd just move on, it's worth the lies for the excellent salary that I otherwise would not be on. I also agree with the comments about employers overselling a job. If they can oversell a job then I can oversell myself!
Anonymous, London, UK

This is why it is up to the Human Resources personnel to do a thorough vetting of each candidate for jobs within their company.
Jessica, Birmingham, UK

Of course I've lied on my CV Richard, Horsham

Of course I've lied on my CV. In fact it contains 3 out of the 4 biggest lies mentioned. Never had a problem at interview as I know I can do the job very well. This gives me the edge over others to get my foot in the door at interview stage. The IT contract market pays very well. However, the amount of jobs that differ so much to the job spec being advertised and then the internal politics. Businesses are not any better than us candidates that lie on our CV's.
Richard, Horsham

The truth between applicants and prospective employers works both ways: many companies grossly distort the truth about themselves in order to attract talent, or advertise a job with an embellished job description far removed from the reality, so they shouldn't be surprised if an applicant 'embroiders' their CV!
Damien Shaw, Vancouver, Canada

My wife once got a CV in that said the applicant had been the treasurer of a society in University for a certain year. This was impossible, as she had been the treasurer of that society, in the university, that year. She had never known him.
Patrick Connolly, Dublin, Ireland

I work in the financial services sector and am currently job-hunting. No, I have never embroidered the truth on my CV and have no intention of doing so. It's not worth it as the article indicates. What is the point of putting your job at risk even for a minor misdemeanour? Several people have said to me that I'm too honest for my own good, but I'd far rather have a clear conscience even if it does mean it takes longer for me to get another job as a result of others being dishonest.
James Salkeld, Chippenham, Wiltshire

Absolutely not. I have far too many commitments to risk summary dismissal for being 'economical with the truth' on my CV. If anything, I probably don't say enough on it. Not that I'm looking for a new job or anything right now... (in case the boss is watching!)
Tony White, Downham Market, Norfolk, UK

I am not condoning my actions but after being rejected at job interviews on numerous occasions I suspected my age was against me. Knocked 5 years off and found employment very quickly. Ageism is still alive in the UK.
Norv, Hinckley, Leics

It is difficult sometime to gauge where the line between "painting oneself in a favourable light" ends and "embroidering the truth" starts. For example employer often set unrealistic job descriptions particularly in the financial sector using terms such as "self-motivating with proven track record on delivery" so it is perhaps not surprising when the applicant decides to describe a previous failure as a glorious success. Lying about qualifications is a different matter and if employers were diligent in checking prior to making a firm job offer these fraudsters would not be able or inclined to lie. Martin
Martin, Middlesbrough UK

All these CVs were presumably sent in because the candidates were attracted by the job advert. Do CVs mislead because job adverts do too? Danger signs for me are "a fun team" - we all hate each other, "fast moving" - we are in deep and chaotic trouble, "pro-active person needed" - we have no direction, and most misleading of all, "successful" - expanding so fast we will implode between you giving your notice in and starting your job with us.
Rupert Wainwright, Greenwich, England

Who doesn't put the best spin on their job description? Peter, Nottingham

I've never actually lied on a CV (like invented a qualification), but at the same time who doesn't put the best spin on their job description? If you don't mildly exaggerate your experience you haven't a chance against everyone else's exaggerated CVs!
Peter, Nottingham

For what it's worth, I have never, ever lied on my CV about anything but let the facts and my personality speak for themselves and I usually got the job. Apart from it being dishonest, people are bound to be found out in the end.
Gerda, England

As an employer we interviewed one guy, and he went for a second interview with my boss. She, for no real reason, asked about the degree he claimed to have. As it turns out he started a degree course and left after three months - had she not asked the question we would have employed the guy based on a lie, as it was we took it no further.
GDW, London

As a new business employing someone for the first time (years ago) with plans to add more - I was really pleased when the recruitment agency I used was so helpful in collecting references and checking the background of my new prospective employee. The recruitment agent emailed all the feedback they'd got and it was all great, it didn't seem too odd to me that they'd failed to send me the referee details for me to check for myself.

Soon after the employee started I was a bit disappointed with the quality of his work I called the employee's former university to verify the degree on the CV. They said "No, X doesn't have a degree and he hasn't even completed the work required yet" I fired the guy on the spot and told the recruitment agency who promptly threatened to sue me unless I paid their fee anyway! I ended up... - without an employee - out of pocket (to the employee and the recruitment agency) - with the risk (for me and clients) of having given a liar access to sensitive information I now check any employee or associate very carefully and avoid using recruitment agencies whenever possible.
Ben, London, England

Now that retirement looms, I suppose it can now do now harm to admit that I glossed over a period of unemployment in my youth. My job was terminated when the company cut staff numbers (downsized in modern parlance) and being last in I was first out. This happened in April 1971. Unfortunately at that time more companies were laying off people than taking on staff, so it was June 1972 before I got another job despite a university degree and applying for every job going. When I moved on from that job, I put on my CV "left one job 1971 after closure of department. Started next job 1972". The interviewers (plural - this was a civil service job!) assumed this meant late December 1971 and January 1972: I did not disillusion them.
Alan, London UK

Well what do you expect, the job market is getting tougher and tougher 90% of graduates can't get their first job without making up that they have been employed in the past. Employers ask for the impossible and we have to lie to provide it.
Peter J, London

Everyone lies on CVs, mainly because employers have unrealistic ideas on what is needed for a job.
RS, Glasgow, UK

You have to sell yourself to get the job Rach Williams, Basingstoke

Fair enough, lying on a CV is completely out of order, but everyone knows that people exaggerate. It's expected... you have to sell yourself to get the job and part of that is making your CV sound as impressive as possible. You have to put everything in the best possible light, give it the best spin. Unfortunately, it seems there's a lot of people out there that don't know where to stop. It's stupid that it happens really because as the article says, it would be pretty easy to prevent if potential employees just bother to check up on what is said. If you don't have proof, don't put it on your CV.
Rach Williams, Basingstoke

Why don't you also do research on the lies and false promises employers make. I am nearly sixty years of age and have been in a professional occupation all my working life working for many employers and I would say at least 80% have lied to me about promotional prospects, salaries due and commissions promised. I am getting fed up of these researches always slagging off employees. Let employers give us what they have promised as they are no better but much worse than the 25% who have lied on their C.V. and this is indicative of why applicants lie on their CVs as firms are now considered fair game
Dennis Marsden, Accrington

I've been an employer and an employee, and can see both sides of the coin. When I was younger, I'd adapt my CV by upgrading my 'N' A-level grade to an 'E' grade (my only misdemeanour), but didn't think it too important as most finance posts involve entrance tests & examinations anyway to ensure competence. Speaking as someone who has been an employer, if someone has the general experience and credentials to perform the duties required has made a slight embellishment, I'd give them the benefit of the doubt. The main reason being, why miss out on someone who may be the ideal candidate because they didn't do so well in exams they may have sat up to ten years previously?
KJ, South Wales

Having worked in the IT industry for many years I notice the embellishment of CVs on a regular basis. Many that I review are full of common technology related buzz words and very little to demonstrate technical skill. To anybody making one of these CVs I say stop! You will embarrass yourself in the interview, as for most technical IT jobs candidates are asked a range of questions which, according to their CV (or we wouldn't be interviewing them), they should know the answer to! After a while you can weed out the false CVs from those that have a clue, but there's plenty of scope for an interviewee to make a prize plum of his/her self.
BG, USA

I have never lied on my CV. I have always put my true qualifications and employment dates. Maybe this is why I have never got a permanent job. Almost all my interviewers have mentioned my short temporary jobs. Maybe if I lied and extended my employment dates I would get a permanent post somewhere. Is that what they want?
Paul, London, UK

It think it's quite easy "stretch the truth" on a CV; making positions seem more important than they really were or wording your life history to make it seem more impressive. I wonder how much of this also applies to university admission 'personal statements' [?]
Calvin, Glasgow, UK

I have never lied on my CV and wished that I had Alex Wells, Surrey UK

I have never lied on my CV and wished that I had. To get jobs that I am more than capable of doing but never look the part on paper. I take all of certificates to be able to prove my qualifications. Out of all the interviews I've been on only a tiny amount ever bother to look at them anyway. With getting a decent worthwhile job these days I'm not surprised people lie to get what they want.
Alex Wells, Surrey UK

Some lies are bigger than others. A great deal of pressure is placed on people in this country to get a job, not least by the benefits office, and we are told repeatedly that gaps in employment look bad on CVs. Yet now it's unethical to cosmetically enhance one's CV to remove a gap in employment which could very easily lead to one's CV ending up in the bin when the gap has no bearing on one's ability to do the job? Yes, faking qualifications and pretending to have experience necessary when it is lacking is clearly wrong. But in an employer's job market it is essential to remove anything which might end up making your CV go into the reject pile on the first pass.
Name withheld, London

Why on earth would you lie on a CV? Employers are not stupid and you certainly will be when found out. As a manager I have sacked someone on the spot before when it transpired they had lied on their CV and at the interview with regards to knowledge of software packages vital to the role.
CC, Lancashire

Employers would do well to be more flexible in their employment criteria Guy, London

I have always been honest on my CV as I have no doubt that being dishonest will lead to problems later on. However it is a very competitive business and many people are struggling to start careers in the financial services industry. People who are just short of a set amount of experience will worry that they will be screened out early in the process if they are honest and unemployment still carries a huge stigma in professional occupations. Employers would do well to be more flexible in their employment criteria.
Guy, London

There have been many times my CV could have won the Booker prize for Fiction
JE, Reading, UK

I've deliberately left something off my CV - after university, I was supplementing a respectable but low-paid job by working nights on one of those phone chat line things. When I applied for 'proper jobs' later on I only mentioned the first employer - despite some of the skills gained from the other one being useful!
Sophy, Cambridge, UK

Lied on every CV and application form I've ever done. So have 90% of people I know. I don't think anyone checks these things!!
Craig, Dorset

Covering up any gaps in employment on your CV is nothing new - a few years ago during a period of unemployment I was encouraged to 'close any gaps' on my CV by jobcentre advisors! As a result, a two year period that I was out of work vanished from my CV. I have been employed in local government for the last 4 years.
P S, Kings Lynn, UK

As a current jobseeker in the financial industry, I find it infuriating that such a high percentage of my "rivals" are lying on their CVs. I would welcome more rigorous checks as to data validity on CVs as it would give honest people a level playing field.
Anon, London, UK

As your CV is often referred to as your first selling tool, then I always view CV's as just that....a selling tool. If you are to sell yourself to get an interview then I fully accept and expect that there has been a form of glossing over. A good interview can soon sort out the wheat from the chaff. We have had many CVs in the past where the candidate was ideal on paper, and then once they pitched up at the office it was blatantly obvious that there was little truth in what was said. As an employer we do check references but never check academic qualifications. Personally though, a holiday rep job where I was fired for not being a "yes person" is NOT on my CV anywhere, and instead is down as "Independent Travel".
Marc Lucas, Bristol England

As a retired person who was for a period employed by a well known company as a Personnel/H R manager I can say that I checked where there was no written evidence of qualifications, where these had a bearing on the post to be filled. However, the fault does not always lie with the employee as I found on more than one occasion that false information was given me by significant officers of the company from which my interviewee was coming. I found that, in their desire to see someone leave, they would 'amend' information, allowing me to find out later. If I learnt to be wary of the one, I was equally wary of the other.
Tony, Gandia, Spain

I've never falsified anything on my CV which probably explains why it takes me longer than most to get a job. The I.T. sector that I work in increasingly makes unreasonable demands on what they expect a candidate to know. More often than not the job spec will list all the latest buzz words that some HR manager has heard or read about, and sometimes will even expect the candidate to have more years experience in a technology than that technology has existed for! Not surprisingly some will tell a few lies to get the job. I don't blame them one bit. If the employers were more reasonable with their demands we wouldn't have this problem in the first place.
Kam, Oxford, UK

There seems to be no respect among employers for the fact that during gaps in CVs the employee may have either been dealing with some life issue or have been gaining important experiences that make them a more rounded employee. That is why people have to massage the truth. If there was a chance of getting to interview and discussing gaps, rather than the inevitability of the CV being binned, less lies would be told.
Bilal, London

I've never lied or even embellished on my CV, but that hasn't stopped unscrupulous agents from doing so on my behalf. I clearly remember turning up to an interview and knowing immediately I did not have the experience for the role. The HR department at this company weren't daft, so I can only assume the agency had rather embellished my experience, which was awkward for both me and my interviewer. Needless to say, I did not get the job. "Come back in three years" they told me!
R. Jones, London, England

I remember a few years back getting a CV to check through whilst working in Belgium - the company were very interested until I pointed out that the referees seemed somewhat incongruous - the references came across as being written by someone with a negligible knowledge of reference writing - and when we called them, they panicked...
Mike, Vienna, Austria