It’s no secret. The daily news is sobering. The U.S. economy is in recession.  A terrible by-product of the poor economy is job losses and rising unemployment. Competition for jobs that are available is fierce. This may lead some to stretch the truth on their resume to appear more qualified and get called in for an interview. My advice . . . don’t do it.  The risks outweigh the benefits. And does lying really give you an edge?
 

The numbers are sobering, especially if you are a hiring manager or HR staffing professional. Depending on what source you reference, anywhere between a third to half of applicant resumes are not truthful and above board. According to a survey by CareerBuilder.com conducted in 2006, over half of HR managers said they had flagged a lie on an applicant’s resume either during the interview or upon verifying information. Not surprisingly, 93 percent of those caught were not hired. ADP Screening and Selection Services, a unit of the Roseland, N.J.-based ADP payroll and benefits managing company, says that in performing 2.6 million background checks in 2001, it found that 44 percent of applicants lied about their work histories, 41 percent lied about their education, and 23 percent falsified credentials or licenses.
(more…)