Lying on a CV 'not illegal'

Although lying on a CV is not illegal, it can damage a candidate's future employment prospects, an expert has advised. Lying on a CV is not illegal, but doing so can badly damage a person's future employment potential if it is detected, an industry expert has explained. Peter Panayotou, senior consultant at the Write Stuff, made his comments following the publication of a Chartered Institute of Educational Assessors study which found around one-third of UK adults have told untruths on their CV in a bid to secure employment. He advised against adopting such as tactic, which could suggest that the old adage of honesty being the best policy is important to remember when applying for a job. "A CV is a sales document and is designed to cast you in the best possible light, but you should try to avoid outright lying," he said. Mr Panayotou explained this means including things which are untrue and presenting them as facts. However, focusing on the positive elements of their previous experience could well be beneficial to those seeking jobs.