Fake it till you make it? 46% of Brits admit to CV lies

The research found that almost half (46.3%) of participants admitted to lying on their CV. While just over a quarter (26.4%) said they had only done it once, almost one in five (19.9%) admitted that they had lied on multiple occasions.

Men were more likely than women to admit to lying on their CV (55.9% compared with 39%).

By generation, Millennials (those aged 35 to 44) were the most likely to say they had lied, with 51.8% admitting to doing so. In contrast, Boomers (aged 55 to 64) were the least likely to have lied. Nearly two-thirds (65.7%) said they had never lied on their CV, compared with 34.3% who admitted they had.

The most common lies told on CVs

When it came to what candidates were most likely to exaggerate, skills topped the list, with over half (52.3%) admitting they had embellished them.

The most common lies told on CVs
Rank
Most common lies told on CVs
Percentage of respondents
1
Skills
52.3%
2
Previous work experience
43.4%
3
Job titles (i.e. to make them sound better)
37.9%
4
Experience using equipment or software relating to the job you’re applying for
26.5%
5
Salary at previous jobs
20.4%
6
High school or college qualifications
18.9%
7
References from previous employers
10.5%
=8
Personal details – name, address, age etc
6.5%
=8
University degree
6.5%
Previous work experience (43.4%) and job titles (37.9%) were the next most common areas people admitted to stretching the truth. At the other end of the scale, respondents were least likely to lie about their university degree (6.5%) or personal details, such as their name or address (6.5%).

Men were also more likely than women to exaggerate their skills on their CV, with 56% admitting to doing so compared with 48.2% of women.

Just over one in ten (13.8%) say they got caught out

Among respondents who admitted to lying on their CV at least once, just over one in ten (13.8%) said they had been caught. Of those, 7.5% said the experience was enough to stop them from lying again. However, 6.2% admitted they continued to exaggerate or lie on their CV despite being caught.

Respondents aged 25 to 34 were the most likely to say they carried on lying even after being caught, with 9.7% admitting they were undeterred.

For almost half (47.9%) of the respondents caught lying on their CV, there were no consequences. However, not everyone was so fortunate. More than one in five (22.5%) said their job offer was withdrawn after the lie was uncovered, while 8.5% said they were dismissed from the role.

How many Brits admit to lying during a job interview?

While 63% of respondents said they had never lied in a job interview, more than a third (37%) admitted they had. Of those, 18.6% said they had lied on one occasion, while a similar proportion (18.3%) admitted they had done so multiple times.

Lying during interviews was most common among Boomers (those aged 55 to 64), with a staggering 81.4% admitting they had done so.

Men were also more likely than women to admit to lying during a job interview, with 47.6% admitting they had done so compared with 28.8% of women.

Among those respondents who admitted to lying during an interview, personal skills were the most common area of exaggeration, with 53.6% saying they had embellished them. Previous work experience followed closely behind at 52.3%, while just over a quarter (26.4%) admitted to lying about their previous salary.

How do Brits feel about using AI when job hunting?

Just over a third (34%) said they had used AI to help with a CV, cover letter or job application at least once, while 66% said they had never used it. However, even among those who hadn’t used AI, opinions were split. A third (33.8%) said they would never consider using it, while a similar proportion (32.3%) said they had not used AI yet but would consider doing so in the future.

Among those who had used AI, 18.4% said they had done so once, while 15.5% admitted they had used it on multiple occasions.

Over two-fifths (43.6%) think using AI in the hiring process is dishonest

Despite its growing popularity, many respondents remain sceptical about using AI when applying for jobs. More than two in five (43.6%) said they believe using AI during the hiring process is dishonest, even if it has become common practice.

Almost a quarter (23%) went a step further, saying they considered it unethical. In contrast, one in five (21.5%) felt AI has simply become a normal part of the hiring process.

When asked how fair they believe it is to use AI to improve a CV, cover letter or job application, opinions were largely positive. Almost two in five (39%) respondents said they considered it to be somewhat fair, while a further 20.3% said they viewed it as very fair.

However, some respondents felt differently. Just over one in ten (12.7%) said using AI in this way was somewhat unfair, while fewer than one in ten (9.9%) considered it very unfair. The findings highlight the ongoing debate around where AI fits within the modern hiring process, with many viewing it as a useful tool while others remain cautious about its role.