‘People are reluctant to admit dishonest behaviour’

According to Van der Zee, there is widespread misconduct during job applications. She refers to American research among students showing that 85 per cent admitted omitting relevant information, while 88 per cent said they had fabricated information in order to present themselves more favourably. A comparison of eight academic studies also found that between 17 and 92 per cent of candidates portrayed themselves as “far better than was justified”.

‘And such figures are likely to be higher, because people are reluctant to admit dishonest behaviour,’ Van der Zee emphasises. In another study involving mock job interviews with near-graduates, candidates were found to tell an average of two small lies per interview.

Applicants lie in various ways, she notes. ‘For example, by claiming to speak a language fluently when in reality you can barely order two pints.’ Conflicts may be downplayed, or qualifications invented. Often, she says, it comes down to impression management: ‘Presenting yourself as just a bit better, a bit smarter than you really are, in the hope of being hired.’ Van der Zee finds it striking that employers do not always check such claims. ‘Employers can simply ask to see degree certificates and transcripts. In academic job applications, that is standard practice.’ According to her, there is a real risk that people are willing to believe lies ‘if they want something badly enough or if it suits them’. A certain amount of polishing may be part of the process, but outright lies can seriously damage trust and, in some sectors, even have dangerous consequences.