It’s inevitable. You’re going to interview a liar sooner rather than later.

Jobseekers fabricate their resumes, applications, and even the answers to your interview questions. Eight out of every ten applicants lie (or say they would lie) to get a job. Very few candidates report being truthful and honest during the interview process.

While it can be frustrating to know you’re being lied to, some construction employment lies are less worrisome than others.

Lies construction recruiters hear in interviews.

Construction recruiters have heard it all. Some of the lies they listened to are palatable, preferable even, to the absolute truth. If you ask a candidate how well they got along with their crew, you’re not expecting to hear, “I hated them all.” The better response is, “I enjoyed collaborating with them on many projects.”

Other common lies like these will surface during the application and interview process:

  • Embellishing a job title. Although a rose by any other name would smell as sweet, titles can matter. “Manager” sounds better than crew leader, and “director” is more impressive than “manager.”
  • Faking a skill. Applicants who once took a language class might not be bilingual, even though they claim this status on their application.
  • Altering job dates. Remembering start and end dates for each employment segment can be tricky. Candidates may be for a month or two. Sometimes, however, they intentionally stretch the employment period.

You’ll find that 40% of your applicants will lie about which university conferred their degree, and they may lie that they earned a degree when they did not complete their degree plan for graduation.

Alarm bells you cannot ignore

How bad can a little lie be? It depends on the severity of the lie and its impact on your business and its reputation.

These three types of lies can be detrimental to your business, making you want to reconsider your hiring choices.

  • Pretending to be a college graduate. Hiring departments can easily confirm that an applicant has a degree. Some candidates will lie to get the job. You might find a candidate with an MBA attractive if you’re expanding your business.
  • Misrepresenting skills or skills levels. If an applicant can’t drive a Bobcat or use a Sawzall, it’s better to admit it than jeopardize the job or your company’s liability.
  • Avoiding the real reason for getting fired. Applicants who lie about their accident reports aren’t candidates for operating machinery. Likewise, a candidate with a history of damaging property and lying about it might not be suitable for your company.

Candidates who apply for jobs tend to lie on their applications – this happens in every industry. However, recruiters can get past the lies (most of them, at least!). Construction recruiters know candidates very well and leverage this relationship to find a good fit for both the company and the candidate. This relationship allows them to provide the best candidates for your company.