The Worst Jaw-Dropping Resume Blunders

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.