More than one in ten young people admit to lying on CV

Key statistics
More than one in ten (12pc) of UK workers aged 18 – 24 years admit to lying on their CV

Of all adults who have lied on their CV, one third (33pc) of workers have fabricated GSCE or equivalent qualifications with 7pc making up or enhancing degree-level qualifications

Of the people who admitted to exaggerating academic qualifications, the 25 – 34s and 45 – 54s are the age groups most likely to embellish their GCSEs/ O-levels (38pc)

From a regional perspective, the Welsh are almost twice as likely to fib on their CV than the national average (13pc vs 7pc)

Those from Yorkshire are the least likely to lie on their CV (4pc)

Of all adults who have been untruthful, the most common lie is making up hobbies and interests (38pc), followed closely by embellishing experience (35pc)

Independent research released today by employee verification experts Callcredit Direct has revealed that more than one in ten people aged 18 – 24 years (12pc) have lied on their CV to secure a job, with 30pc of those who have been untruthful admitting to fabricating GCSE or equivalent results.

Of all workers who have been untruthful of their CVs, fabricating hobbies and interests is the most common untruth (38pc), followed closely by embellishing experience (35pc) and making up GCSE or equivalent results (33pc) Interestingly, itís the 25 – 34 years olds and the 45 – 54s olds who are most likely to embellish these academic qualifications. A further 15pc of those who admitted to lying on their CV have made up or improved their A-level or equivalent results with 7pc inventing or improving their degree level results.

Across the UK, people in Wales are the most likely to embellish their CV with almost twice as many people admitting to lying as the national average. Conversely, workers in Yorkshire appear the most honest with just 4pc admitting to fabricating parts of their CV.

Derek Woodhouse, manager, Callcredit Direct comments, ìIt appears that young people more than any other age group are prepared to lie on their CV to secure a job, perhaps because they feel that their work experience is not strong enough and competition for jobs is fierce. But while making up interests and hobbies on a CV may not seem that serious, it is however concerning to see that a third of UK adults who do lie on their CV find it acceptable to do so about their qualificationsî.

ìSince the introduction of the Fraud Act 2006 it is now a criminal offence for anyone to make false representation for their own gain, including potential employees making untrue or misleading claims on their CV. All employers should be actively screening against this, a process which can easily be done online and at minimal cost.î