Can CV lies damage a business?

Jo Faragher

For a recruiter, the CV howler is an occupational hazard. So it will come as little surprise to hear that 71% of hiring managers have spotted a lie on a CV, according to figures from Careerbuilder.co.uk.

What is perhaps more worrying is that a third of the employers surveyed believe CV embellishments have been on the rise since the recession. After months of uncertainty, it’s perhaps forgivable that candidates are so desperate to get a foot in the door that they’ll tweak their work history or bump up a qualification.

As the survey highlights, a lie on a CV would not necessarily mean that candidate was summarily dismissed from the process. Depending on the lie, many companies would still consider the application if the candidate was a strong one.

Most admitted to ‘bigging up’ their skills or saying they had greater responsibilities than they had actually had. In the grand scheme of things, these embellishments may end up being harmless as the person will soon prove themselves (or not) in their new role.

However, as the market evolves post-recession to become more candidate-driven, this practice may not reap the same rewards for mendacious applicants.

Many employers on the lookout for high-demand skills will want proof that a candidate’s experience is authentic and relevant. Regulatory demands, particularly in the financial sector, could mean that employers face fines or worse if they knowingly take on someone who has lied about their skills.

That said, Careerbuilder’s survey also suggested that some hiring managers could put more work into considering CVs. Twelve per cent spent just 30 seconds or less on each CV.

Unfortunately, this is where the few who have really falsified their skills and qualifications will slip through the net, which could cause massive reputational damage.

As scandals at the likes of Barclays and the Co-op Bank have demonstrated, trust and authenticity are more important than ever in building business relationships.

Perhaps it’s time that candidates were honest about their abilities, and that recruiters gave their CVs the attention they deserve.