The Worst Jaw-Dropping Resume Blunders
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The Worst Jaw-Dropping Resume Blunders
Exaggerated skill sets and academic backgrounds are only the beginning of these resume no-nos that some job candidates have the gall to include on their resumes. -
Tight Timeframe
70% of surveyed employers spend less than five minutes reviewing a resume, and 48% devote less than two minutes to this. -
Flexible Position
42% would consider hiring a candidate who only met three of five key qualifications for a specific role. -
Augmented Reality
56% have found a lie on a resume. -
Most Common Resume Lies
Embellished skill sets: 62%, Inflated responsibilities: 54%, Inaccurate dates of employment: 39%, False job titles: 31%, Made-up academic degrees: 28% -
Jaw-Dropping Resume Blunders: Lofty Standing
An applicant claimed to be a former CEO of the company to which he was applying. -
Jaw-Dropping Resume Blunders: Casual Aside
A prospect introduced himself in the cover letter by writing, "Hey you." -
Jaw-Dropping Resume Blunders: Distinguished Experience
A job-seeker claimed to be a Nobel Prize winner. He wasn’t. -
Jaw-Dropping Resume Blunders: Stuff Happens …
An applicant claimed to have gotten fired "on accident." -
Jaw-Dropping Resume Blunders: Higher Ed
A prospect claimed to have attended a college that didn't exist. -
Jaw-Dropping Resume Blunders: Frequent Flyer
An applicant's stated job history listed him with three different companies—in three different cities—at once.
Like many hiring managers, CIOs are pressed for time when reviewing job applications. Most employers, in fact, spend less than five minutes reviewing a single resume, according to a recent survey from CareerBuilder. Knowing that they have a limited window to distinguish themselves, potential hires often go to extra efforts to make their resumes stand out. That said, you surely want to avoid candidates who come up with anything resembling these jaw-dropping resume blunders, also provided courtesy of CareerBuilder. While the blunders are extreme cases, they reflect the wealth of resume-padding out there: A great deal of survey respondents have found falsified information on these documents, including exaggerated skill sets, duties and academic backgrounds. In many cases, such distortions aren't even necessary, as a notable share of managers say they're fine with hiring a candidate who doesn't meet all of the specified qualifications for an opening. "Job seekers have the unenviable challenge of grabbing—and holding—a hiring manager's attention long enough to make a strong impression," said Rosemary Haefner, chief human resources officer at CareerBuilder. "Embellishing a resume to achieve this, however, can ultimately backfire." More than 2,530 hiring and HR managers took part in the research.