According to research conducted on behalf of psychometric consulting firm, SHL, a third of jobseekers are lying on their resumes or during interviews.

Lies most commonly involve exaggerating or fabricating work experience, with some 17 per cent of candidates admitting to stretching the truth in this area. SHL national director Stephanie Christopher attributes the lies to anxiety over GFC-related gaps and breaks in employment.

The next most common lies include naming friends as false employer referees (16%), dishonesty around previous salary packages (10%), and fabricating qualifications (3%).

I can honestly say I’ve never lied on my resume or in an interview. Well...almost.

But what constitutes as lying? I have never intentionally provided false or misleading information to try and increase my chances of getting a job but I have embellished my job title or position description in order to more accurately portray my skills, experience and functions within a company.

It’s the same old story, you get employed to a be an ‘X’ but once you settle in to the company and get good at what you do, suddenly the powers that be also want you to be ‘Y’ and you might as well do ‘Z’ while you’re at it.

Your official position title doesn’t change, nor does your job description vary to reflect your new found responsibility and expertise – but when it comes to trying to convey that on your resume it can come across as misleading or untrue. Particularly if you are reference checked and the recruiter calls your old employer.

Recruiter: “So I’d just like to clarify that {name} was employed as ‘XYZ’”

Former Employer: “Uh...well, no. She was actually employed as ‘X’”.

Recruiter: “Oh...I see...” *files your application under LYING DECEITFUL COW*

BUSTED!

Although, depending on the circumstances you left your last job or how nice your former employer is, they may clarify this and explain how great you were and how much more you were able to learn and take on. But if circumstances weren’t ideal on your exit, you can bet your old boss will keep his mouth shut and grin evilly with glee at his efforts to sabotage your career prospects.

Let’s face it, there are times in your professional life when you leave a company and it’s not all cake, drinks and ‘we’ll miss you’ cards signed by the entire office. And this may be through no fault of your own. And it may be through every fault of your own. But usually there are three versions to the story – your version, your boss’s version and the truth.

However, it would be unfair to expect that you would leave this valuable information off your resume and may mean the difference between you getting the job and not.

It’s not so much the information that you convey, but the way in which you convey it.

For example, my favourite way of putting my best foot forward that’s not always the “official” story is to mark those extra duties and skills up as achievements on my resume.

You can accurately and truthfully list what your position entailed, then list the additional stuff as “achievements” – it’s not misleading in the slightest and it makes you look like a superstar!

As far as providing false referees, that’s been happening for a long time and I dare say will continue. Friends of mine have done it. Friends of mine have asked me to be party to it. I may have acted a false referee on occasion, and perhaps it’s partly my fault for enabling them but you help a mate out.

Good recruiters will always know. They’ll ask the important questions and when you struggle to answer them or give vague and general responses – they’ll know. When you answer your phone without identifying yourself, or your company and don’t have your “work” voice on – they’ll know.

But most importantly, you’ll know. It’s unethical, it’s unfair and professional networks have long arms. Get caught out and it may make finding a job even harder.