Lying in the hiring process is more common than many might expect. These lies range from exaggerating skills to misrepresenting previous experience, and in some cases, fabricating demographic details.
In this article, we share the findings from Resume Builder’s January 2025 survey of 2,000 Americans who have applied for jobs.
Key findings:
- 44% of Americans admit they’ve lied in the hiring process
- 24% have lied on their resume, 19% in an interview, and 6% on their cover letter
- Americans generally lie about their skills and abilities, years of experience, responsibilities in previous positions, and lengths of positions held
- Additionally, 9% have lied about their disability status, 7% about their race and ethnicity, and 6% about their veteran status
- 4 in 10 have landed a job as a result of lying
- The majority say lying has helped them succeed professionally, including obtaining a higher salary
1 in 4 Job Seekers Have Lied on Their Resume
Among job seekers, 24% have lied on their resume, making it the most common place for dishonesty. The most frequent resume lies include:
- Years of experience (38%)
- Skills and abilities (34%)
- Lengths of positions held (32%)
Millennials are the most likely to lie on their resumes, with 29% reporting doing so. On the other hand, 20% of Gen Zers say they’ve lied, 27% of Gen Xers, and 13% of Boomers.
Additionally, men are more likely than women to lie on their resumes (30% vs. 20%).
Lying in interviews is also widespread, with 19% of job seekers admitting to dishonesty during an interview. The most common interview lies include:
- Skills and abilities (41%)
- Responsibilities at previous jobs (32%)
- Years of experience (31%)
Once again, Millennials were the most likely to lie at this stage of the hiring process (24%), and Boomers were the least likely (8%). More men (23%) than women (16%) have also lied in the interview stage.
Fewer job seekers (6%) have lied in their cover letters, but when they did, they most often misrepresented:
- Skills and abilities (45%)
- Responsibilities at previous jobs (38%)
- Years of experience (37%)
“Lying during the hiring process can create long-term trust issues and damage one’s professional reputation. Once a lie is uncovered, it is not easily forgotten, and trust is difficult to rebuild,” says Resume Builder’s Chief Career Advisor Stacie Haller.
“Modern hiring processes often drive some job seekers to misrepresent themselves. 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. Human resources organizations need to review their hiring practices to eliminate common frustrations such as years of experience that don’t match whether or not someone will be successful in the position. Improvements on the hiring side can reduce the perceived need of job seekers to lie during the process.”
1 in 10 have lied about their disability status
Beyond work-related qualifications, some job seekers have falsified demographic information:
- 9% have lied about their disability status
- 7% have misrepresented their race or ethnicity
- 6% have falsely represented their veteran status
Gen Zers were slightly more likely to lie about their disability status than other generations, with 13% stating they have done so.
“Lying about race, disabilities, or veteran status often stems from a desire to mitigate perceived barriers to employment. This reflects a deeper systemic issue within hiring practices. When candidates feel that honesty about their identities will put them at a disadvantage, it highlights a workplace culture that still tolerates bias. It’s a troubling situation that calls for change, yet current trends suggest we are moving in the wrong direction. To foster a truly equitable job market, organizations must address and eliminate the biases that drive individuals to feel they must misrepresent themselves,” says Haller.
4 in 10 Have Landed a Job as a Result of Lying
Lying in the hiring process often leads to job offers. Among those who admitted to lying, 36% successfully secured a job, and 28% said they landed their current position by being deceitful. Despite the prevalence of dishonesty, only 12% have faced any repercussions for their actions.
Some individuals experienced direct consequences for their lies. 4% had a job offer rescinded, while 2% were fired after starting the position. Others received disciplinary action, with 5% reprimanded but allowed to stay in their roles. In rare cases, 1% struggled in the position because they were underqualified due to their fabricated credentials.
Two-thirds say lying has helped them succeed professionally
For many job seekers, dishonesty has proven beneficial in advancing their careers. In fact, 64% believe lying helped them succeed professionally, and 25% say it enabled them to secure a higher salary than they otherwise would have earned.
“Lies about previous responsibilities or years of experience might remain undetected if due diligence isn’t thorough during the hiring process. In some cases, these details may become irrelevant once the individual is on the job, especially if the role focuses more on demonstrated abilities than on past experience. As organizations increasingly prioritize skills and competencies, I foresee more testing and practical assessments being integrated into the hiring process. These measures will help reduce the incentive and opportunity for dishonesty by focusing on what truly matters for success in the position,” says Haller.
1 in 10 Job Seekers Plan on Lying in the Hiring Process This Year
Looking ahead, 27% of respondents say they are currently applying for jobs, and 32% plan to in 2025. Among them, 11% expect to lie in their applications or interviews.
“Dishonesty harms a worker’s reputation, even if the consequences aren’t immediately apparent. If a candidate doesn’t meet all the requirements for a specific position, honesty is still always the best approach. They should highlight their genuine strengths, the skills they bring, and why they are uniquely suited to succeed in the role. By presenting their qualifications truthfully, they demonstrate integrity and professionalism — qualities often as important as technical skills,” concludes Haller.
Methodology
This survey was commissioned by ResumeBuilder.com and conducted online by the survey platform Pollfish in January 2025. In total, 2,000 U.S. residents completed the full survey.
To qualify for the survey, all participants had to answer that they have applied for a job in their lifetime.
Learn more about Pollfish’s survey methodology or contact [email protected] for more information.