Twenty-five per cent of potential employers spend 60 seconds or less reviewing an applicant’s resume, according to a CareerBuilder.ca survey released August 13. So what do applicants do to get the attention they need to get the job?
Apparently a lot of them lie, the survey found.
Almost half of employers surveyed (49%)said they had caught a lie in an applicant’s curriculum vitae. Many of those lies related to embellishing skills or responsibilities. Some went so far as to lie about academic degrees, companies worked for and awards received.
Job seekers likely lie so that what they have to offer matches what the employer is looking for. But that’s not necessary, according to the survey, as almost 60% of employers said that if they were looking for five specific qualifications they would consider candidates with only three or four of those qualifications.
“With increased competition for jobs, job seekers may feel the need to embellish their CVs to stand out and impress hiring managers and recruiters,” said Mark Bania, managing director of CareerBuilder Canada.
“What job seekers may not realize, however, is that most hiring managers are willing to consider candidates who do not meet 100% of the qualifications. While employers need a certain level of skills, they also want to see job seekers who show enthusiasm, a potential for learning and cultural fit.”
CareerBuilder suggests other ways to get the recruiter’s attention, such as learning his or her name. Almost a third of hiring managers said they would give more attention to an application directly addressed to them. A link to a personal blog or website and including a cover letter and customizing the CV for the particular position also helps.
