Resume Exaggeration Statistics: 45% Say Employers & Job Seekers Exaggerate Equally

Monster’s Resume Confessions Report reveals a disconnect between what workers believe and what they’re willing to do. Nearly 6 in 10 U.S. adults (59%) say a resume should always be completely truthful, but 37% would exaggerate something on their resume to land their dream job if they knew they’d never be caught. Meanwhile, 45% believe employers and job seekers are equally guilty of exaggerating to land the hire or the job.

Workers also acknowledge exaggeration in their own job searches. More than 1 in 4 (27%) say they’ve intentionally included something that wasn’t completely accurate to improve their chances of getting hired.

The report explores how workers think about resume honesty, what candidates exaggerate, why they do it, and where they draw the line between presenting themselves favorably and being dishonest.

Key Findings

Workers See Exaggeration as a Problem on Both Sides of Hiring

Resume exaggeration may traditionally be viewed as a candidate issue, but workers are just as likely to believe employers stretch the truth.

When asked who exaggerates more during the hiring process:

Altogether, 89% believe exaggeration occurs somewhere in the hiring process. These resume lies statistics show that the largest group doesn’t place responsibility solely on candidates or companies. Instead, workers appear to view hiring as a process where both sides emphasize their strengths as they try to make the best possible impression.

What Do Workers Exaggerate on Their Resumes?

While more than 1 in 4 workers say they’ve intentionally included something on their resume that wasn’t completely accurate to improve their chances of getting hired, the most common changes involve embellishing existing experience.

When asked about the biggest change they’ve made on a resume:

• 50% say they’ve never stretched the truth.
• 22% have made responsibilities sound more impressive.
• 11% have inflated skills or experience.
• 8% have adjusted employment dates.
• 5% have changed a job title.
• 2% have used keywords they didn’t fully qualify for.
• 2% have claimed more credit for a project.

These lying-on-resumes statistics suggest that workers are more likely to enhance or reframe their experience than make more substantial changes to their employment history.

Candidates are also tailoring their resumes closely to individual openings. Nearly 1 in 4 workers (23%) say they’ve copied wording directly from a job description into their resume to appear like a better match.

Why Do Workers Exaggerate on Their Resumes?

Among workers who acknowledge exaggerating on their resumes, the opportunity to interview is the most common motivation.

When asked why they exaggerated on their resumes:

• 38% wanted to improve their chances of getting an interview.
• 29% believed they could do the job anyway.
• 13% urgently needed a job.
• 11% wanted to get past applicant tracking systems (ATS) or automated screening.
• 9% believed the job requirements were unrealistic.

The findings point to the pressures candidates may feel when trying to stand out during the application process. For many who exaggerate, the goal is to get an opportunity to compete for the position.

That distinction, however, doesn’t make inaccurate information risk-free. Candidates ultimately need to be able to support the skills, responsibilities, and accomplishments they include on their resumes.

Honesty Still Matters to Most Workers

Even though exaggeration is widely viewed as part of the hiring process, most workers still believe resumes should be accurate. 

When asked which statement best matches their opinion:

The results highlight a tension in how workers approach the hiring process. Candidates may feel pressure to present themselves as strongly as possible, but nearly 6 in 10 still believe that complete truthfulness should be the standard.

How to Strengthen Your Resume Without Exaggerating: 5 Steps

Candidates can make their experience more compelling by clearly communicating their qualifications, tailoring their resumes to the position, and demonstrating the impact of their work—all without stretching the truth.

• Step 1:

  Focus on Accomplishments, Not Just Responsibilities

  Instead of making responsibilities sound bigger than they were, explain what you accomplished while performing them. Include specific results, improvements, projects, or outcomes that demonstrate the value of your work.

• Step 2:

  Quantify Your Impact When Possible

  Numbers can make legitimate accomplishments on your resume more persuasive. Consider including metrics, such as revenue generated, customers supported, projects completed, time saved, team size, or performance improvements, when those figures accurately reflect your work.

• Step 3:

  Tailor Your Resume to the Job

  Review the job description and identify the experience and skills you genuinely have that are most relevant to the position. Prioritize those qualifications on your resume rather than adding skills or keywords you can’t confidently support.

• Step 4:

  Use Strong, Accurate Language

  There’s a difference between presenting your experience confidently and misrepresenting it. Use clear action verbs and specific descriptions to communicate your contributions without changing your title, employment history, or level of responsibility.

• Step 5:

  Be Prepared to Discuss Everything You Include

  Before submitting your resume, make sure you can comfortably explain every skill, accomplishment, project, and responsibility listed. If an interviewer asks for an example, you should be prepared to provide one.

Standing Out Without Stretching the Truth

Hiring requires both candidates and employers to communicate their strengths, but the resume exaggeration statistics in Monster’s Resume Confessions Report show that workers still draw a line between presenting experience favorably and being dishonest.

While 45% believe employers and job seekers exaggerate equally, and more than 1 in 4 workers admit to including something on their resume that wasn’t completely accurate, 59% still believe resumes should always be completely truthful.

For job seekers, the challenge is making their experience stand out without misrepresenting what they’ve done. Focusing on measurable accomplishments, relevant experience, and clear descriptions of real skills can help candidates build stronger applications while maintaining the authenticity that can lead to better long-term job matches.

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