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Job Seekers Stretch the Truth to Land New Jobs

Ref. PR-00725

  • One in three HR managers and finance managers say candidates exaggerate the real content of their previous job
  • Job seekers try to avoid discussing inherent weaknesses during the interview process
  • Over half of HR and finance managers say there is no link between hours worked and productivity

According to research from the International Workplace Survey released today [29 March 2007] by specialist financial recruitment firm Robert Half, HR and finance managers say candidates are most likely to exaggerate the real content of their previous job to secure a new role. The survey was conducted with over 2,300 HR and finance managers across 13 countries in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, and provides an insight into international workplace trends.

Globally, 29 per cent of HR and finance managers believe candidates exaggerate the role and responsibilities of their former job in an effort to become more employable. This is closely followed by candidates exaggerating management skills (19 per cent), knowledge of languages (12 per cent) and salary (12 per cent). Managers in Ireland (52 per cent) and Italy (43 per cent) are most likely to find candidates that exaggerate their previous experience while in Luxembourg (14 per cent) and Spain (14 per cent) it is less common. And in the UK almost a third (31 per cent) of all managers stated that they believed candidates exaggerated their previous job responsibilities.

David Jones, UK Managing Director, Robert Half International, said:

'Naturally everyone wants to impress when interviewed and employers in the UK are clearly taking on board that in order to achieve this candidates can have a tendency to exaggerate their previous role and responsibilities.  It is up to each employer therefore to ensure they brush up on their interview techniques and ask questions that will paint a clear picture of the candidates' abilities and personality.'

The survey also reveals various concerns amongst candidates when faced with the prospect of a job interview. When asked which subject candidates most want to avoid when being interviewed, one in three (33 per cent) said inherent weaknesses while 28 per cent say they would prefer not to reveal the reasons for leaving their previous job - these findings were consistent across all 13 countries surveyed. 


The survey, which also looks at the issue of work-life balance and specifically productivity, shows that there is no direct correlation between the number of hours worked and the level of productivity. According to the survey, the majority of HR and finance managers (58 per cent) say the number of hours worked has little impact on productivity at work.

David Jones commented:

'Employers in the UK today are increasingly recognising that long working hours does not necessarily correlate with maximum productivity.  And, as our research indicates, everyone's productivity levels differ at various times during the day.  We are seeing a clear increase in the number of employers that are acknowledging this and now offering flexible working hours to accommodate each individual's needs.'

When asked to reveal the various elements of working life that have the most positive influence over productivity it is the desire to work as part of a team that was the most popular choice (13 per cent). 11 per cent of respondents prefer to have a quiet working environment while one in ten say a good working atmosphere is the best way to boost productivity. In Ireland, 21 per cent of respondents say deadlines are a primary driver of productivity. Interestingly, one in five (20 per cent) respondents say phone calls, emails and meetings have the most negative influences over productivity, more so than being stressed (10 per cent).

Document: Job Seekers Stretch the Truth

Contact Us

For further information please contact:

Michelle Whitman
Robert Half International
Tel : 020 7331 2222

Email : michelle.whitman@rhi.net