CV deceit could cost employers thousands, HR expert warns

Employers could face significant costs when candidates exaggerate or falsify information on their CVs, according to HR specialist CharlieHR.

The warning follows the recent arrest of a man who reportedly secured 13 NHS jobs after lying on his CV, prompting renewed discussion around application fraud and recruitment checks.

CharlieHR said the issue could become increasingly challenging as AI-generated CVs become more commonplace, with separate research suggesting one in five people have admitted lying on their CV to secure a job.

CV deceit can range from altering employment dates to hide career gaps to claiming qualifications that have not been earned or providing false references for roles an applicant has never held.

For employers, CharlieHR said failing to identify false claims before making an appointment can result in additional training requirements, poor performance and, potentially, the need to dismiss and replace the employee.

Ben Gateley, CEO and co-founder of CharlieHR, said: “CV deceit can be costly for an employer.

“From training and onboarding to equipment and office space, the cost of hiring someone new adds up, let alone if they need additional support due to lacking the skills they claimed, or if the deception results in a replacement being needed.

“Hiring a new employee can cost up to 1.4x their base salary. For example, for someone earning £35k, employers could be looking at an additional £14k in onboarding expenses.