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When Resumes Lie

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Lynn Gaertner-Johnston Updated on

Last week I wrote about the importance of telling the truth in resumes, in a post called "The Power of the Truth." Since then, I found an interesting nugget of data in the December issue of T&D, published by the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD).

T&D published brief results of a survey of 2200 workers and more than 1000 hiring managers, completed by CareerBuilder.com. The survey, Resume Lies, found that although just 5 percent of workers admit to lying on their resumes, 57 percent of hiring managers say they have caught candidates in a lie. Of those who caught applicants in a lie, 93 percent did not hire the candidate.

Let’s see . . . 5 percent lied, but 57 percent caught someone in a lie. Is someone in this survey not telling the truth?

Lynn

Posted by Lynn Gaertner Johnson
By Lynn Gaertner-Johnston

Lynn Gaertner-Johnston has helped thousands of employees and managers improve their business writing skills and confidence through her company, Syntax Training. In her corporate training career of more than 20 years, she has worked with executives, engineers, scientists, sales staff, and many other professionals, helping them get their messages across with clarity and tact.

A gifted teacher, Lynn has led writing classes at more than 100 companies and organizations such as MasterCard, Microsoft, Boeing, Nintendo, REI, AARP, Ledcor, and Kaiser Permanente. Near her home in Seattle, Washington, she has taught managerial communications in the MBA programs of the University of Washington and UW Bothell. She has created a communications course, Business Writing That Builds Relationships, and provides the curriculum at no cost to college instructors.

A recognized expert in business writing etiquette, Lynn has been quoted in "The Wall Street Journal," "The Atlantic," "Vanity Fair," and other media.

Lynn sharpened her business writing skills at the University of Notre Dame, where she earned a master's degree in communication, and at Bradley University, with a bachelor's degree in English. She grew up in suburban Chicago, Illinois.

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