Recent headlines have brought the issue of CV padding under the spotlight and job applicants should also heed the fact the internet provides employers with means to verify information, a new survey suggests.
More than a quarter (27pc) of people who admitting padding their CVs said they subsequently lost their job when the false information was later discovered, the survey by FindLaw.com reveals.
Eight per cent of US respondents said they have embellished or exaggerated information pertaining to their skills, education, work experience, or professional credentials on their CVs.
Yahoo’s now-former CEO Scott Thompson recently stepped down from his post when what Yahoo! called an ‘erroneous error’ was uncovered on his CV.
Three per cent of the FindLaw.com survey respondents said they were not offered a job after the padding on their CV was discovered.
“With the internet, employers now have more means to verify information on a CV,” said Stephanie Rahlfs, an attorney and editor with FindLaw.com.
“Even connections with other people via social media such as Facebook and LinkedIn can reveal inconsistencies with the information that you are presenting to employers. In this age of social networking, people need to be careful not only that their information is truthful and accurate, but also that they are not saying one thing to one person or company, and something different to someone else – whether it’s an employer, prospective employer, friend, family member or acquaintance.
“Our survey found that when someone provides false information on a CV, more than one-third of the time – 36pc – the deception is later discovered,” said Rahlfs. “And the most common result is the loss of a job.”
