A report from HireScores of 1,218 people revealed the top 10 most common lies told in a job interview. Topping the poll is lying about the salary received in a previous job (67%), followed by exaggerated grades and qualifications (61%) and relevant experience (58%).
When asked the multi-answer question, 'which of the below things have you
lied about in a job interview previously?' the top 10 most popular answers
were:
1 Salary of previous job - 67%
2 Grades or qualifications - 61%
3 Years of relevant experience - 58%
4 Reason for leaving previous roles - 54%
5 Commitment to career - 52%
6 Hobbies and interests - 49%
7 General skills - 44%
8 Responsibilities in previous jobs - 38%
9 Job titles in previous roles - 36%
10 Marital status - 32%
Of those that were dishonest about the amount of money they earned in their previous role, 54% said it was because they wanted to receive a 'drastic salary increase' in a new role.
The most common reason for the respondents lying about their grades or qualifications was to 'impress' the potential employer, with almost two thirds, 64%, agreeing. Similarly, of the 36% that lied about their previous job title, 49% said it was intended to 'impress' the interviewer.
The study found that fewer than one in 10 of the respondents, 8%, said they have 'never' lied in a job interview.
Lisette Howlett, managing director of HireScores, said: "I would strongly advise against being dishonest in an interview; if you are the right candidate for the role then the employer will probably see this just by meeting and talking with you. Lying in a job interview will only lead the employer to believe that you are capable for the job, when you may not be. Plus, if you get caught out, at best the company will lose confidence in you and at worst you will be dismissed (or not hired in the first place). In our experience most interviewers take even the smallest lie to mean that the candidate cannot be trusted and therefore not hired."
