A lot of mistakes are regularly made in job applications, and one of the most severe is lying on an application. Whether the lie is about employment history, academic qualifications, or even somebody deciding to write their own reference, the lie can be easily found out, resulting in the liar losing their job and even having their reputation destroyed. Some even risk getting charged and sued for fraud.

An ideal job application for both employers and employees is one which demonstrates clearly and concisely the unique skills of the applicant. This means that some embellishment is okay, and brushing over some of the less desirable characteristics is as well, but lying is still a big red flag. Being honest can help an employer form a correct impression of how good of a worker you are, so that when the job begins they don’t have any nasty surprises.