Gen Z 5x more likely to lie on resumes, AI Resume Builder reveals

WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES — A new survey from AI Resume Builder reveals that Gen Z job seekers are five times more likely to lie on their resumes than Baby Boomers, with many leveraging AI tools like ChatGPT to embellish their qualifications. 

Out of 7,884 U.S. adults surveyed, 10% admitted to lying on their resumes, and nearly a third of those used AI to help craft their fabrications.

Who’s lying on resume and why

The data shows Gen Z leads all generations in resume dishonesty, with 20% admitting to falsifying information, compared to 13% of Millennials, 8% of Gen X, and just 4% of Baby Boomers. 

Men are nearly twice as likely to lie as women—12% versus 7%. The most common lies involve dates of employment (39%), years of experience (36%), and job responsibilities (35%).

The top motivations for lying include:

• A highly competitive job market (40%)
• Lack of interview offers (35%)
• Feeling underqualified (35%)
• Hopes of securing a higher salary (29%)

“Candidates lie on their resume when they feel stressed about their search,” Soozy Miller, head of career advising at AI Resume Builder, explained. 

“With recent layoffs, many people are out of work and worried about the job market. Job seekers feel that the job market is so tough right now that actions such as lying on a resume to get a job are justified.”

AI tools fuel resume fabrication

Among those who lied, 31% used AI tools like ChatGPT to enhance or fabricate their resumes, with nearly half of Gen Zers admitting to using AI in this way. 

Over half of AI users said the tools helped them rewrite their experience to sound more impressive or reframe weaknesses as strengths. 

Some of the prompts given to AI included “Help me create fake experience for a job I never had” and “Enhance my resume to make it seem like I accomplished more than I actually accomplished.”

Moreover, 90% of those who use AI at work say it makes them more confident stretching the truth on job applications, knowing AI can help them fake it after they’re hired.

“While AI tools can make the job seeker look better by preventing errors like grammar and spelling mistakes on their resume, it can also help job seekers lie,” said Miller. 

“If the job seeker tells AI they increased sales by 30%, even if that’s not true, AI will simply add it to the resume in a well-written statement.”

Most resume liars get hired, few face consequences

The risks appear minimal for most. Seventy-six percent of those who lied received a job offer, and 81% believe their deception helped them secure the position. 

Only 8% think anyone discovered their lie, and just 21% regret their actions. 

Miller cautioned, “If your lie is discovered, you may be labeled by a company as untrustworthy, and will be difficult to reapply… If you lie your way into a job you’re underqualified for, it’s possible you won’t be successful in the job.”