6 most common lies job seekers tell on their CVs

With the unemployment rate steadily increasing and the job market becoming saturated by the day, many job seekers find themselves telling ‘white lies’ on their CVs in attempts to stand out.

While some may argue that a white lie never killed anyone, it can land you in serious trouble.

In 2019, the National Qualifications Framework Amendment Act was signed by President Cyril Ramaphosa, and states that prospective students or job seekers could be jailed for up to five years for misrepresenting their qualifications.

In an article published by Metro, here is a list of the six common lies on CVs.

1. Education: While this is not a new trend, it has become the norm, especially if your educational background lacks the ‘wow’ factor – which easily leads to fraud.

2. Achievements: This is when people exaggerate their sales figures, leadership responsibilities or role in high-profile projects.

3. Job titles: Many people find themselves changing their previous job titles in a bid to either earn more money or land a job at all. A common lie some job seekers tell is saying they were a manager when they were an assistant.

4. Employment dates: This involves changing the dates of engagement or termination to ensure it looks like you have the relevant experience.

5. Salary: In the current tough economic climate, it is understandable why most people would lie about how much they were earning and their salary expectations. However, employers value honesty.

6. Skills: Many job posts nowadays have a long list of skills required, which makes people believe they need to lie to get a foot in the door. While this is tempting, it is not a good look to be hired under false pretences.

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