At Tapt, we’re all about making connections - but when it comes to job hunting, some Brits are stretching the truth along the way. In a world where networking plays a crucial role in career success, honesty is more important than ever. A strong professional reputation can open doors, but getting caught in a lie can just as easily close them.
We surveyed 1,002 people across the UK to find out just how honest candidates are during the job search. From small embellishments to outright lies, we uncovered some surprising trends across different regions and demographics.
So, where in the UK are job seekers most likely to bend the truth, and what are they lying about? Here’s what we found.
Almost one-third of Brits have lied during a job search
Our survey found that nearly one in three (31.7%) Brits who have searched for a job admit to bending the truth during the process. Women are slightly more likely to be dishonest, with over a third (34%) confessing to it, compared to 29.3% of men. And when it comes to age, younger generations are leading the way in job search fibs. Almost half (47.9%) of 25-34-year-olds admit to lying to land a role, a figure that steadily drops with age, reaching just 12.9% for those over 65. This could be due to the highly competitive nature of the job market for entry-level and lower-tier roles, pushing young job seekers to stretch the truth in an effort to stand out and secure employment.
The most common lies Brits tell during the job search
The most common lies British job seekers told were related to why they had left their previous employer. Over a quarter of those who admitted to lying during their job search (26.7%)- or 8.5% of Brits overall - lied about this. Many do so to avoid awkward conversations, downplay being fired, or make job-hopping seem more stable. Others may tweak the truth to sidestep concerns about workplace conflicts, redundancies, or personal reasons that could hurt their chances.
Our Australian report also found the most common lies Aussie job seekers told about why they had left their previous employer. A third of those who admitted to lying during their job search - 10.9% of Aussies overall - lied about this.
Lying about current salary was the second most common deception, with 22.8% of those who admitted to lying - or 7.2% of Brits overall - doing so. Many inflate their earnings to negotiate a higher offer, while others fear being undervalued if their actual salary seems too low. In competitive industries, candidates may see this as a way to level the playing field and secure better pay.
Which UK regions have the most dishonest job seekers?
London takes the crown for the most dishonest job seekers, with nearly four in ten (39.8%) admitting to lying during the application process—the highest rate across the UK. The West Midlands follows closely behind at 37.8%, while the South West emerges as the most honest region, with only 22.7% confessing to dishonesty.
When it comes to the volume of lies told, job seekers in the East Midlands were the most prolific, averaging 2.4 different falsehoods per person, whereas Yorkshire and the Humber had the lowest average at 1.4.
Salary deception is particularly rampant in London, with 14.6% of candidates admitting to inflating their pay—the highest of any region. The North West led the way in fudging employment dates (11.6%), while the West Midlands had the highest rate of misrepresenting past job titles (11%), followed by the East of England (8.2%) and London (8.1%).
The East Midlands stood out for embellishing previous job responsibilities, with 13.6% admitting to doing so—far exceeding any other region. Meanwhile, educational qualifications were a key area of dishonesty in the Midlands, with the West Midlands (11%) and East Midlands (10.6%) leading the way in academic exaggeration.
Elon Datt, Founder and CEO at Tapt comments:
"Honesty is always the best policy when it comes to job hunting, yet our research shows that many candidates are inclined to bend the truth. Whether it’s inflating salary expectations, tweaking employment dates, or downplaying a career break, job seekers may believe a small lie will give them a competitive edge. However, employers are becoming increasingly skilled at spotting inconsistencies through reference checks, background screenings, and even AI-driven recruitment tools. Getting caught in a lie can seriously damage a candidate’s credibility, not just for one role but across an entire industry. And in some extreme cases, could even land you in jail!
"That said, there’s a difference between outright dishonesty and strategically positioning yourself for a role. Highlighting relevant skills, emphasising key achievements, and tailoring experience to match a job description is a smart approach—but honesty should always come first. This is especially important when networking, where building genuine relationships can lead to long-term career opportunities. Trust and reputation are invaluable in professional circles, and presenting yourself truthfully ensures you’re creating connections that will support your success in the long run."
About the data
We commissioned independent survey company Pureprofile to conduct a survey of 1,002 Brits on our behalf to find out if and how people have misrepresented themselves during the job search process.
The survey was conducted in line with the nationally representative percentage targets for age, gender and location (region).
The survey consisted of a single question: “Have you ever lied during a job search? If so, what about?”.
Respondents were able to select as many of the 18 options that were applicable to them.
Data from regions including Wales, North East and Northern Ireland have been excluded due to a small sample size of those who have completed a job search.
Resume Fraud Report Australia