Three in five UK (59 percent ) employers say that they have removed a job candidate from consideration after discovering dishonest or exaggerated information on his or her CV, according to new research Contributor Rachel Stockell, Senior Manager – OfficeTeam.

For many candidates, exaggerating skills on a CV is viewed as a harmless lie – a necessity to help secure a dream job or indeed any job,’ said Rachel Stockell, Senior Manager, OfficeTeam. ‘What many people don’t realise is that being ‘dishonest’ with your skills and experience can end up costing you a job offer and damage your long-term career prospects. While you might not always have the implicit intention to deceive prospective employers, bending the truth on a CV, or in a job interview is a dangerous path to take. Even minor embellishments have consequences that can come back to haunt professionals throughout their career.’

The research, which polled over 400 employers in the UK, found that the most popular areas for dishonest information or exaggerated claims are work experience (58 percent ), education or qualifications (41 percent ), technical skills 40 percent ) and the duties they claim to have performed in previous employment (30 percent ).

‘Employers need to find ways of preventing candidates who have embellished their CVs or included false information from slipping through the net,’ concluded Stockell. ‘This is where introducing a third-party, such as a specialist recruitment consultant, can play a valuable role in helping both sides. Candidates can have access to the professional advice that supports them in crafting a tailored, comprehensive and truthful CV. At the same time, hiring managers can be reassured that any potential employees have been validated and come with character references to find candidates that are a good fit for the job and business.’