{"id":357764,"date":"2016-04-04T10:45:26","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:45:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/employment\/hiring-process\/lying-on-a-resume-or-job-application.html"},"modified":"2024-05-17T09:49:28","modified_gmt":"2024-05-17T14:49:28","slug":"lying-on-a-resume-or-job-application","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/employment\/hiring-process\/lying-on-a-resume-or-job-application.html","title":{"rendered":"Lying on a Resume or Job Application"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Lying on a Resume or Job Application<\/h1>\n
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\n By Lisa Burden, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Melissa Bender, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Lying on a resume or a job application<\/a> can be tempting, but you should avoid doing so because it may cost you dearly.<\/p>\r\n

Seven in 10 U.S. workers say they’ve lied on a resume<\/a> to land a job, according to a 2023 report from ResumeLab. Also, 80% said they lied during a job interview, often by inflating job responsibilities, previous job titles, and skills, and 76% said they lied in their cover letters.<\/p>\r\n

The most common areas for false information are dates of employment, credentials, training, degrees, prior earnings, and criminal history.<\/p>\r\n

Job seekers say they "fudge the facts" to get the job.<\/p>\r\n

It may surprise you to discover how often job applicants lie on their resumes, applications, or even in interviews. But resume fraud is a risky strategy.<\/p>\r\n

Lying on a Resume May Get You Fired<\/h2>\r\n

You could get fired if you’ve landed a job after a resume lie, background check<\/a>, or in your interview. This is especially true when the fraud relates to a relevant part of the job. For example, if you list on your resume that you got a college degree in a field that is important to the position and you don’t have that degree, you could get fired if your employer discovers the truth.<\/p>\r\n

You must be honest about your work experience. Employers will ask about it during the interview, include it in your background check, or ask your references about it. So, if your application doesn’t align with their research, it creates "red flags."<\/p>\r\n

There is no such thing as a "little white lie" in an employer’s eyes. Most employers consider lying in your job application to be significant.<\/p>\r\n

On top of losing your current job, the firing could also make it more difficult to find work in the future.<\/p>\r\n

Legal Consequences \u2014 Civil Liability<\/h2>\r\n

Lying on a resume may not be illegal. A resume is not a legal document, but a job application might be. During the hiring process, a company may ask you to affirm the accuracy of the information you provide. As a result, it could be illegal to lie during the signing process.<\/p>\r\n

Most states have employment-at-will laws, even if you never checked a box saying that your application was accurate. These laws allow an employer to terminate your employment at any time and for any reason, including resume fraud.<\/p>\r\n

Lying on your resume isn’t illegal unless you provide false information about certifications or licenses.<\/p>\r\n

You could be liable for civil damages if your falsehoods created legal issues for your employer. For example, if you’re an architect and your company gets sued because of mistakes you made on building drawings, and you lied about the certification to do the job, your employment will probably get terminated. Also, your now-former employer can come after you for civil fraud or misrepresentation if issues or injuries happened because of your work.<\/p>\r\n

Legal Consequences \u2014 Criminal Liability<\/h2>\r\n

Depending on what you lied about, you could face criminal charges. But, the likelihood of getting charged with a crime for lying on a resume or job application is slim in most instances.<\/p>\r\n

But, certain circumstances could lead to criminal responsibility. In some states, like Texas, authorities can penalize you for lying about your academic credits. Lying about having a professional license, such as that needed for a doctor or nurse, could lead to criminal charges. If you’re seeking employment from a state or federal employer, you will likely see a statement reminding you that lying on a government application is a crime.<\/p>\r\n

Loss of Professional License<\/h2>\r\n

Many professions have a board that oversees the administration of licenses to people in professions, including lawyers, nurses, and doctors. They can suspend or revoke your license if you commit an ethical violation.<\/p>\r\n

Problems With Suing Your Employer<\/h2>\r\n

If you got your job by lying on your resume, you might not be able to take your employer to court, even if your employer has violated your legal rights. For example, if your employer can show that they would not have hired you in the first place had you been honest on your resume or application, you may not be able to recover damages if you got illegally fired from your job.<\/p>\r\n

Courts have generally found that employees who lie to get a job can’t later claim they were wronged. Some courts have dubbed this legal strategy the "after-acquired evidence<\/a>" theory. Evidence that supports this theory has included:<\/p>\r\n