Nearly Half of Gen Z Is Lying on Job Applications
Nearly 50 percent of Gen Z admitted to lying on their job applications, significantly higher than their older co-workers, a new survey said.
The age cohort born between 1997 and 2012 was the most likely to lie or exaggerate on their job applications, with 47 percent of young workers admitting to doing so in a career.io report.
Why It Matters
Gen Zers have already earned a somewhat negative reputation in the workforce. In a recent Intelligent.com report, one in six businesses said they were hesitant to hire recent college graduates over concerns about how prepared they are for the work as well as their communication skills and professionalism.
And six in 10 employers had already fired college graduates who were hired in 2024. One in seven said they might refrain from hiring new college grads in the next year as well.
The LinkedIn app on a mobile phone.
The LinkedIn app on a mobile phone.What To Know
While some employers complain of Gen Z's work ethic once they get the job, it turns out many may also be exaggerating or even lying on their job applications.
Nearly half, 47 percent, said they had exaggerated on their job applications, compared to 38 percent of millennials, 20 percent of Gen X and just 9 percent of baby boomers in the survey of 1,000 full-time workers.
Across all age groups, one in four respondents admitted to lying, exaggerating or providing inaccurate information on their job applications. That can result in serious consequences for businesses, as business.com reported that a bad hire can cost a business 30 percent of the employee's first-year earnings.
For those who admitted to lying on their applications, 23 percent said they exaggerated their responsibilities in a past role, while 22 percent said they worked somewhere they never did.
Men were more likely to lie on their job applications, with 33 percent admitting to the practice compared to just 21 percent of women.
What People Are Saying
Amanda Augustine, a certified professional career coach, in the report: "If you're worried that your experience isn't a perfect fit for a position, focus on reframing your information rather than falsifying it...Remember: Your resume is a marketing tool. While it's not necessarily a legal document, it also can't be a work of fiction. Its job is to present your skills and experience—your career story—in the best possible light without misrepresenting your qualifications."
Drew Powers, founder of Illinois-based Powers Financial Group, told Newsweek: "Exaggeration on a job resume or application is just par for the course across all generations. Gen Z currently has the least amount of time in the workforce, and therefore the most entry-level job experience. Is a business owner more likely to hire someone whose experience is listed as 'waitstaff' or 'Hospitality Experience Specialist'?...We cannot blame Gen Z for their youth, and I'm OK with a little artistic hyperbole. At least it shows some level of creativity."
Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: "While some are asking 'Why would Gen Z lie on job applications?' the better question may be 'Does Gen Z think they are actually lying in professional settings?' Being the first generation raised in the social media age, some of Gen Z really believe perception equals reality, and in the same way they may exaggerate their image or status when sharing with friends and family on an app, they may see little wrong with adding embellishments when applying for new opportunities. Of course, the downside is if they don't have the skills to match their claims, they could very quickly find themselves overwhelmed in the workplace or—even worse—without a job."
HR consultant Bryan Driscoll told Newsweek: "Lying on a resume isn't illegal. Promising competitive pay and delivering $17 an hour should be. Gen Z isn't the problem. Our job market is. Candidates today are navigating a system that rewards performative hustle, punishes honesty and ghosts candidates after asking for five rounds of interviews and multiple hours of free work."
Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek: "To be completely fair to Gen Z, those numbers are probably more in line historically. We probably don't have any true data as to how many lied on applications in the '50s, '60s or '70s, but I would venture to guess it wasn't absent any embellishment."
What Happens Next
Many hiring experts expect that candidates will embellish a bit on their job applications, especially if they're entering into an entry-level job.
"Of course candidates exaggerate. Employers do it constantly in job descriptions. 'Fast paced environment' means understaffed. 'Family culture' means no boundaries or balance. 'Opportunity for growth' usually means there isn't any," Driscoll said.
"We can argue ethics and morality until we're blue in the face, but this is about survival in a broken system."
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