Here are the 5 most common lies told by job applicants

86% of respondents to the 2015 HireRight Benchmarking Report indicated that verifying employment revealed candidates who lied on their resumes or applications. We’ve dived into the data, and deciphered the five most common lies told by job applicants. Employers – be aware!

1. Exaggerating their past job responsibility

According to a Harris Poll study, 55% of job applicants exaggerate their past job responsibility. It’s no surprise that some candidates who are not qualified for a vacancy may  claim expertise and experience they do not have, and they inflate their previous salaries to negotiate better packages.

2. Changing their dates of employment

The same Harris Poll study also indicated that 42% of job applicants alter their dates of employment on their resume. Candidates often attempt to stretch the truth on dates to cover gaps in employment they may not want to explain.

3. Falsifying their Degree

With roughly a 20% discrepancy rate in resume information provided by candidates regarding their education qualifications, it’s important that employers understand the variety of ways applicants lie to claim unearned degrees. In many cases, candidates may forge diplomas, purchase a degree from a diploma mill, lie about their major, or may have attended classes but never graduated.

4. Concealing a Criminal Record

The most common way job applicants with a criminal background try to attempt to avoid detection is by changing details such as their date of birth or spelling of their name. This is why it’s critical that employers conduct thorough criminal searches, going beyond the basic data provided, in order to confirm the results and avoid hiring a potentially dangerous individual. Finding and compiling this data isn’t easy, which is where hiring a professional screening company becomes critically important.

5. Hiding a Drug Habit

Workplace drug and alcohol use costs U.S. businesses an estimated $100 billion each year, and about half of Americans admit to having used an illegal drug in their lifetime, so conducting a proper drug test should be a standard step in any screening program. There are numerous ways drug users attempt to beat the drug test, and some go to great lengths. Ensure you have strict screening procedures in place. Lying on job applications at the very least provides reason to question an applicant’s character. Be careful who you hire, and don’t take applicant information at face value. With professional background screening best practices in place, employers can make the right hiring decision the first time.]]>