Applications fall foul of fibs

The Risk Advisory Group says its study suggests that an increasing number of people are lying in their job applications.

Examples included a financial services candidate who failed to mention that he had been arrested for shoplifting and assault in Japan.

One candidate falsely claimed to have attended a prestigious university, which had no record of him. Credit checks conducted on a potential recruit to an investment bank revealed he had five County Court Judgments against his name.

Sal Remtulla, head of employee screening for the Risk Advisory Group, said: "This year's results have yet again brought to our attention how unscrupulous candidates can be when applying for jobs, and highlight their apparent lack of conscience towards potential employers.

"The serious nature of these discrepancies emphasises the need for heightened attention during the recruitment process."