At Tapt, we know that making the right impression is key to landing a job—but how far are Australians willing to stretch the truth when networking, in their resume or during an interview, to stand out?
We surveyed 1,003 people across the country to uncover the value of honesty in the job search. From exaggerating experience to adjusting qualifications, some candidates aren’t afraid to bend the facts.
But which states are home to the most creative job seekers, and what are the most common things people lie about? Here’s what we found.
One-third of Aussies have lied during a job search
Honesty isn’t always the top priority in the job search, with 33% of candidates admitting to lying during the process. Men were slightly more likely to be dishonest, with 34.9% confessing to stretching the truth compared to 31.2% of women.
Age also played a key role, with younger generations leading the way in job search dishonesty. Over four in ten (43.9%) of 25-34-year-olds admitted to lying - the highest of any group - followed closely by 18-24-year-olds at 41.7%. In contrast, older job seekers were significantly more truthful, with only 15.4% of those over 65 admitting to any dishonesty. This could be due to the rising level of competition in 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 Aussies tell during the job search
The most common lie Aussie job seekers told was related to 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. 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.
In our UK report, we also found the most common lies British job seekers told 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.
Lying about employment dates was the second most common deception, with 30.6% of those who lied during the job search - and 10% overall - altering their work history. Many people do this to cover career gaps, whether due to unemployment, personal reasons, or short-term roles that didn’t work out. Some hope to present a more seamless career timeline and avoid tough questions from employers.
Which states have the most dishonest job seekers?
When it comes to job search honesty, South Australia and New South Wales topped the list for the most dishonest job seekers, with over a third (36.1%) admitting to lying to secure employment. On the other hand, Queensland emerged as the most truthful state, with just 30.1% confessing to dishonesty.
The nature of lies also varied by location. In New South Wales, candidates were most likely to be dishonest about their reasons for leaving a previous role (11.9%) and employment dates (11.6%). Notably, NSW had the highest percentage of applicants falsifying their previous job titles (8.5%).
South Australians led the way in concealing career breaks and falsifying employment dates (both at 13.1%), while also topping the charts for inflating salaries (9.8%) and exaggerating previous job duties (8.2%). Meanwhile, Victoria stood out for academic dishonesty, with 5.2% of job seekers admitting to embellishing their educational qualifications.
Elon Datt, Founder and CEO at Tapt comments:
"Our findings show that Australians aren’t afraid to bend the truth when job searching, with a third of job seekers doing so. While some may think a white lie will improve their chances of landing a job, employers have more tools than ever to verify credentials, from reference checks to AI-driven hiring processes. Getting caught in a lie can not only cost you the job but also impact future opportunities in your industry. In extreme cases, lying during the hiring process could also land you a fine and even jail time.
"Rather than fabricating details, job seekers should focus on positioning their real experience in the best light. Tailoring a résumé to highlight key skills and achievements is a smart approach - but accuracy matters. This is especially true when networking, where building genuine relationships can open doors to new opportunities. Employers value candidates who can demonstrate their strengths honestly, as trust and credibility go a long way in securing the right role."
About the data
We commissioned independent survey company Pureprofile to conduct a survey of 1,003 Australians 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 (state).
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 Tasmania, Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory have been excluded due to a small sample size of those who have completed a job search.
Resume Fraud Report UK