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Stretching the Truth To Get The Job
Nearly one in five Canadians (19%) would exaggerate previous responsibilities in order to land a job, according to a poll released by ADP Canada Co. (ADP Canada).
The ADP BackCheck poll also revealed that Canadian employers are not always diligent in screening or conducting background checks of prospective candidates.
Nearly six in 10 of those surveyed (59%) said they had obtained a job without the employer checking references.
Additionally, poll findings reveal that a large majority (84%) would feel frustrated if they knew someone had been promoted or hired at their workplace because they had lied on their résumé.
When faced with this knowledge, colleagues are on the fence about what to do: nearly half (49%) would report them.
With respect to their boss though, fewer (20%) would blow the whistle if they discovered dishonesty; most (59%) would simply think less of them.
"Hiring the wrong candidate can be costly for employers, in both time and money, and can cause stress within the workplace," said Mark Kohler, Director of Marketing for ADP Canada.
Results of the ADP BackCheck poll show that job-seeking Canadians who stretch the truth fall under one of five "Tall Tale" types:
Paycheque Pretenders: would exaggerate their current or previous compensation (27%).
Eager Embellishers: would gloss over relatively inconsequential details such as the duration of a job, or gaps of time between jobs (15%).
Time-Will-Tells: would lie about skills they don't have, like speaking German or operating a forklift - gaps that would eventually become evident (17%).
Fact-Fudgers: would exaggerate current or previous job responsibilities (19%).
Phonies in Disguise: would falsify credentials key to the field or position (12%).
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