- Hiring managers reveal most common CV lies
- Expert offers tips for capturing employer's
attention
TORONTO, Aug. 13, 2015
/CNW/ -- They say that honesty is the best policy, but it
appears as though several job seekers are putting that theory to
the test. According to a new CareerBuilder.ca survey, 49 per cent
of Canadian employers have caught a lie on a job applicant's
CV.
The national survey was conducted online on behalf of
CareerBuilder.ca of more than 400 hiring managers across
Canada.
What are the most common CV lies?
Skill sets,
responsibilities and job titles are the areas in which job seekers
tend to stretch the truth the most. When asked about the most
common lies they have come across, employers named the
following:
- Embellished skill set: 58 per cent
- Embellished responsibilities: 53 per cent
- Job title: 32 per cent
- Academic degree: 31 per cent
- Companies worked for: 31 per cent
- Dates of employment: 27 per cent
- Accolades/awards: 20 per cent
Vying for Attention
It's not hard to understand why
some job seekers feel the need to lie. Capturing – and holding – an
employer's attention is no small feat: Nearly 1 in 4 employers say
they spend 60 seconds or less reviewing a CV for a specific
position. The majority (65 per cent) do not spend more than five
minutes on this task.
Job seekers may also feel the need to enhance their resumes in
order to meet all of the requirements in the job posting; however,
not meeting 100 per cent of the qualifications is not always a deal
breaker. Nearly three in five employers (59 per cent) said, if they
were hiring for a position with five key qualifications, they would
consider a candidate with only four of those qualifications, and
approximately the same amount (61 per cent) would consider a
candidate who met only three.
"With increased competition for jobs, job seekers may feel the
need to embellish their CVs to stand out and impress hiring
managers and recruiters," said Mark
Bania, managing director of CareerBuilder Canada. "What job
seekers may not realize, however, is that most hiring managers are
willing to consider candidates who do not meet 100 percent of the
qualifications. While employers need a certain level of skills,
they also want to see job seekers who show enthusiasm, a potential
for learning and cultural fit."
Bania suggests the following tips for job seekers to enhance
their CVs – without having to stretch the truth – and set
themselves apart in the eyes of hiring managers:
- Customize your CV. 59 per cent of hiring managers said
they would pay more attention to a CV that is customized for their
open position. Customizing your CV to match the requirements of the
job makes it easier for hiring managers to see if you are the right
fit for the position.
- Include a cover letter. 52 per cent of hiring managers
would give more attention to a CV that is accompanied by a cover
letter. Not only does including a cover letter show extra effort on
your part, a cover letter enables you to introduce yourself in a
more personal way, give more context around the information on your
CV (such as gaps in work history) and explain why you feel you are
the best person for the job.
- Learn the hiring manager's name. 31 per cent of hiring
managers would give more attention to an application that is
addressed to the hiring manager or recruiter by name. Finding out
the name of the recruiter or hiring manager in question may take a
little bit of detective work, but a simple search on LinkedIn or
the company's career site may point you in the right
direction.
- Take it online. 23 per cent of hiring managers would
give more attention to a CV that includes a link to the candidate's
online portfolio, blog or website. Not only does providing this
information help hiring managers learn more about you, it also sets
you apart from other candidates.
Survey Methodology
The survey was conducted among 500
employees and 400 hiring managers in Canada. The interviews were conducted online
by Redshift Research in June & July
2015 using an email invitation and an online survey. Results
of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The magnitude of
the variation is measurable and is affected by the number of
interviews and the level of the percentages expressing the results.
In this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey
result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 4.4 percentage
points from the result that would be obtained if interviews had
been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the
sample.
About CareerBuilder.ca
CareerBuilder.ca is a leading
job site in Canada. Owned by
Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI), the Tribune Company, The McClatchy
Company (NYSE: MNI), CareerBuilder.ca powers the career centers for
more than 250 Canadian partners that reach national, local,
industry and niche audiences. Job seekers visit CareerBuilder.ca
every month to search for opportunities by industry, location,
company and job type, sign up for automatic e-mail job alerts, and
get advice on job hunting and career management. For more
information about CareerBuilder.ca products and services, visit
http://www.careerbuilder.ca.
Media Contact
Mary
Lorenz
+1 773-527-3613
Mary.Lorenz@careerbuilder.com
http://www.twitter.com/CareerBuilderca
SOURCE CareerBuilder