Why lying is helping job applicants get hired

Getting a job is becoming increasingly difficult, and employees are doing whatever they can to stand out from the crowd — including fabricating their work experience to get ahead. 

According to a January survey from Resume Builder, 44% of job applicants have lied during the hiring process, yet nearly four out of 10 said they landed the job as a result of the lie. The most common lies involve skills and abilities, responsibilities at their previous roles, and how long they were at a previous job. 

Nearly a quarter of job seekers have lied on their resume, and 19% have continued the ruse during a job interview, according to Resume Builder. Nine percent say they have lied about their disability status during the application process, and 7% have lied about their race and ethnicity. 

Read more: How a white lie could cost a company top talent 

"Modern hiring processes often drive some job seekers to misrepresent themselves," Stacie Haller, chief career adviser at Resume Builder, said in a release. "This behavior is compounded by societal shifts, where dishonesty is increasingly normalized. For some, it has become a perceived necessity to compete in today's job market." 

Millennials were the most likely to lie during the application process, with nearly a third admitting they hadn't been honest. Meanwhile, 27% of Gen X, 20% of Gen Z and 13% of boomers shared they avoided the truth. Male applicants were more likely than women to lie on their resume, as 30% of men and 20% of women said they were guilty of a fib, Resume Builder found. 

"Dishonesty harms a worker's reputation, even if the consequences aren't immediately apparent," Haller said. "By presenting their qualifications truthfully, they demonstrate integrity and professionalism — qualities often as important as technical skills." 

Read more: 3 tips that will help you nail your next job interview

Yet employees are feeling frustrated at the current job market and are going to greater lengths to stand out during the hiring process. According to data from LinkedIn, 14 million job applications went completely ignored during a single quarter in 2024. Of those who do move on in the process, half were eventually ghosted by an employer. 

Yet keeping up the ruse can be a challenge, too — 12% of applicants were caught in the lie and faced repercussions, including having a job offer rescinded, or they were fired after getting the job. However, 28% said that lying was the reason they got their current role. 

"If a candidate doesn't meet all the requirements for a specific position, they should highlight their genuine strengths, the skills they bring, and why they are uniquely suited to succeed in the role," Haller said. "To foster a truly equitable job market, organizations must address and eliminate the biases that drive individuals to feel they must misrepresent themselves." 

Read more: 8 questions job seekers should ask in interviews

Employers need to do their due diligence to ensure their job postings reflect the skills and experience needed to do the role, versus putting years of experience as their only metric. Employers can also incorporate skills tests and other assessments to keep employees honest — and prepared to do the job they're actually qualified for. 

"As organizations increasingly prioritize skills and competencies, more testing and practical assessments will be integrated into the hiring process," Haller said. "These measures will help reduce the incentive and opportunity for dishonesty by focusing on what truly matters for success in the position."