Don’t Lie on Your CV! The Consequences Are Serious

The UK job market is one of the toughest in the world. Hence, many job seekers feel that it is necessary to lie on their CVs to improve their chances of securing an interview, and hopefully, the job. A study revealed that exaggerating previous responsibilities, inflating job titles, falsely increasing academic grades, lying about having a higher degree, and altering employment dates are some areas they are willing to lie about on their CVs.

The temptation to lie on a CV isn’t a new thing, and has likely been there as long as there have been high levels of competition. After all, who’s going to pick up on tiny CV lies, right? However, is it really harmless and inoffensive? Is it worth taking the risk to get ahead? What happens if you get caught? Read on to find some answers.

Is lying on your CV a criminal offence?

While it may seem like just a little white lie, dishonesty on your CV can have very serious consequences. It can lead to your job applications being immediately rejected, losing out on other job opportunities, huge fines, and in extreme cases, even imprisonment. As a matter of fact, CV lies are actually illegal in the UK under the Fraud Act 2006. Simply changing your job title or omitting certain facts can be classified as fraud by false representation which carries a maximum jail sentence of 10 years. So, trying to sell yourself by lying on your CV with the intention to secure employment is not advisable and never a good idea. Instead of falsifying information, follow the best practices to create an interview-winning CV.

Can you be fired for lying on your CV?

The simple answer is yes. In relation to the UK’s fraud act mentioned above, employers have  the legal right to fire staff members who are found lying on their CV. Let’s assume you lied on your CV about your past experience, landed the job, and then got discovered later on. If the lie has been proven to be significant enough to break the implied duty of trust and confidence between you and the employer, then you could very well be dismissed. This is because employers can face serious problems if it turns out that you don’t have the qualifications needed to perform the job at hand.

Additionally, there are certain industries where a lie during job application may have a more significant impact than in other sectors. For instance, industries like healthcare, construction, and engineering typically require academic degrees and other pre-requisite to apply for advanced roles. In this case, lying about one of these qualifications on your CV could put the safety of your co-workers, customers, and even the general public at risk. While some lies can place you in a more favourable light, they can also result in bigger implications that can cost you your job, and even more, damage your reputation.

10 Ways You Could Get Caught Lying on Your CV

Experienced recruiters and hiring managers probably already know the key areas candidates are most likely to lie about. After all, they’ve experienced lying candidates before. So, don’t think you can pull one over on them that easily. While it’s true that many job seekers have gotten away with their CV lies, they are likely to get exposed at some point once they start working. Here are some ways employers could catch you out:

1. The employer checks on your educational background

Falsifying academic qualifications is one of the most common things a candidate lies about on their CV. However, there are now a variety of ways an employer can verify your educational background. Typically, you will be asked for documentation as proof of your qualifications, such as award certificates or degree transcripts. In addition, they can call your school directly or use a degree verification service.

2. You can’t pass a skills assessment

It is easy to put on paper that you are proficient in everything. But proving that you actually possess these skills is a completely different thing. To verify whether you have the skills, experiences, and qualifications you are claiming to have, most employers use skills assessments as part of their recruitment process. Failing such tests can lead to accusations that you’ve either stretched the truth or overestimated your abilities, both of which can result in your disqualification.

3. Your employment dates don’t add up

A CV-Library survey found that more than 30% of candidates lie about their employment dates due to a gap, especially if they don’t have any valid explanation. One common tactic they use is listing the job history by just the year rather than month and year. However, it can instantly raise suspicions which may prompt hiring managers to conduct some further digging. All it takes is one quick call to your previous employer to uncover the truth. Some companies even outsource services to carry out background checks.

4. The employer scours your social media profiles

91% of employers use social media as part of their hiring process. Average UK companies spend around 25% of their recruitment budget on this. One of their ways to conduct background checks is to scan through a candidate’s social media channels to learn more about them and fact-check some information from the CV they submitted. Any details that do not match can lead to accusations of deception or fraud.

5. It shows in your body language

The saying “actions speak louder than words” holds very true during a job interview. Your body language gives the interviewer a lot of information about you that can’t be conveyed by spoken words alone. It can reveal whether you are confident, focused, uncomfortable or nervous. Candidates who are lying often give themselves away subconsciously by displaying physical signs of discomfort. For example, a lack of eye contact, too much fidgeting, stammering, or sudden changes in speech. These signs are almost impossible to cover up which can result in the interviewer being suspicious of you. 

6. The employer conducts backdoor reference checks

When the employer requests references, you surely provide those who you believe can back you up. Then, the employer will contact them to verify some information about your skills and experience. But that’s not all. Since most references have been asked to say only good things, some recruiters and employers also conduct backdoor reference checks. Their goal is to speak to someone not recommended by the candidate. For example, they reach out to a mutual connection who can shed light on how a candidate performed in their past jobs or contact HR departments directly.

7. You’re vague about your skills and experience

Using vague terms to describe your skills, experiences, and past accomplishments can also raise suspicions that you’re being untruthful about your qualifications. For instance, using ambiguous phrases such as “involved in”, “familiar with”, or “possess knowledge of” could mean you are trying to cover up your lack of hands-on or direct experience. This can lead to employers asking probing questions to validate these and find out the truth. The quality of your responses will show if what’s indicated on your CV is factual.

8. Your job titles are too good to be true

Inflating job titles just to be recognized as a qualified applicant or achieve a higher salary offer is highly unacceptable. Employers will immediately notice that you’ve altered your job title if it doesn’t match the years of your experience. For example, a candidate who is just two years out of college and already a Director of Marketing sounds too good to be true. In cases like these, expect employers to ask detailed questions about your work experience to ensure you’re actually telling the truth about your title. They will be able to tell if you are lying based on the depth of your answers.

9. The employer verifies your claims from past company

It is a common practice for a potential employer to call some of your past companies to get more information about you. As part of their hiring process, this may be the very first thing they would do if they found any suspicious information or want to verify every single detail you’ve provided. One phone call from your previous manager or co-worker can expose every lie or exaggeration you’ve put on your CV.

10. You’re not able to do what you claimed

Let us say you get the job after claiming that you’ve managed a large digital marketing campaign that brought high business revenue in your previous role. Then, you’re asked to replicate its success. However, you can’t come up with any ideas. Being unable to recall key details of your past accomplishments is already a red flag. It seems like you’re directly telling them that you’ve actually fabricated your skills and qualifications.