More than half of American hiring managers say they have caught out someone lying on their resume, with the vast majority marching that employee swiftly to the exit.
A survey by online recruitment site CareerBuilder.com found that although just five per cent of workers admitted to fibbing on their resumes, almost six out of 10 hiring managers had spotted a lie on a candidate's application.
Of those, perhaps unsurprisingly, more than nine out of 10 did not hire the candidate.
The survey of more than 2,200 workers and 1,000 hiring managers found a very low tolerance level for resume lies.
More than four our of 10 hiring managers said they would automatically dismiss a candidate who fibbed on their resume, while others said it would depend on the candidate and situation.
"Catching a lie on a resume raises a red flag about a candidate's overall ethics," said Rosemary Haefner, vice-president of HR for CareerBuilder.com.
"Ninety-two per cent of hiring managers say they conduct background checks on employees. That means even the smallest inconsistency or embellishment is likely to get noticed and could cost you the job," she added.
The most common resume lie was stretched dates to cover up employment gaps, with nearly one-in-five hiring managers saying they had found this on a candidate's application.
Other top lies include: falsifying past employers (18 per cent), academic degrees and institutions (16 per cent), technical skills and certifications (15 per cent) and accomplishments (8 per cent).
A survey earlier this month by employee screening specialists The Risk Advisory Group found that one in five Britons applying for jobs had lied on their resume or CV, with some adding false qualifications, difficulties with previous jobs and even overlooking the fact they have a criminal record.