This is Why 78% of Resumes Lie
Do we notice when something we value stops being of value? Resumes have been the staple for picking the most suited people for a job, even if the truth is saying otherwise. According to the The Society of Human Resource Managers 70% of college students say they're willing to lie on a resume to get a job, in this recent industry survey. After the survey unveiled a series of secrets on how HR is done, this unfortunate fact is only the beginning.
As we speak, the people in your office are more likely to have lied on their resume than the contrary. While most recruiters will tell you they can see the cracks on that wall, the crisis on the other side has never shone this clearly. It is known that 46% of reference checks reveal lies. What is know by less spoken about, is that 78% of the current resumes in the market include major fabrications. Every year millions to leak through the holes of a broken system creating a resume writing culture where lying has become a staple behavior. So what are they lying about?
Have inflated salary claims 40%
Have inaccurate job descriptions 33%
Show altered employment dates 29%
Give falsified references 27%
Resumes that state fraudulent degrees 21%
Today, you are being cheated. We all are, and by dissecting the issue honestly we're aiming to give employers the tools they need to build their best solution. If out of every ten hires, seven are lying, we have a problem bigger than individual ethics. We've crossed over into something systemic, making it too dangerous for employers to continue to sweep under the rug. This silence has created a hiring culture that rewards dishonesty and the number don't lie. But how?
Our human capital as a country falls below our human capital needs. The United States has produces less graduates than it's economy requests for three consecutive decades. As it stands, we would need to add 20 million more bachelors holds between now and 2025 to bridge an economically fatal gap. Now, tell me if this isn't ironic...
With the number of unemployed graduates fitting the percentage of resumes harboring lies about education like a puzzle, I have a difficult time saying there's no correlation.
According to Business Insider, 22.4% of all college grads have no job. Of those that did get a job, roughly half are in roles that don't need a degree at all. On the greener side of the mismatch, some are opting to simply lie about their education to match the jobs the graduates perhaps should be getting. While the number of graduates and demand for graduate-level work that matches, we're failing to match the two together. With the number of unemployed graduates fitting the percentage of resumes harboring lies about education like a puzzle, I have a difficult time saying there's no correlation. People are being cheated, which gets worst when you think about following.
Is it really the job seeker? When looking at the primary source of lies, salary claims, a different picture is painted. Employers create a culture of minimal transparency about salary, and this is the result. A combination of vagueness about pay at all possible points has left the window open to be exploited. The goal for the job seeker; manipulate the vagueness to get as much out of the situation as possible. The goal for the employer; manipulate the vagueness to get as much out of the situation as possible. Who's winning?
According to a Glassdoor survey of workers, most workers are underpaid by about $4,700 when looking at base pay. Why is salary the most lied about a feature on a resume? When a culture is created that resembles poker more than dialogue, who can blame either side for bluffing?
What looks like job seekers taking advantage of the system is a reaction to a system designed to take advantage of job seekers. 78% falsified resumes and a few fake certifications later and job seekers are still the one's losing. Employers will get more honesty from job seekers by being more honest to them. Still, with the cards still stacked in their favor... what will it take to inspire change?
Yeah Right: When asked if they've ever lied on a resume, 73.5 % of respondents said ''No, never'.
