SOME job seekers will go to great lengths to gain an advantage in this struggling economy.

Is it really worth the risk to stretch the truth on a résumé or resort to fake references or fake diplomas? Job candidates may want to think twice before taking this risk; it could come back to haunt them.

“There is very little proof that any form of résumé boosting directly results in a job interview, much less a job offer,” says John A Challenger, chief executive officer of Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc. “In contrast, there are scores of examples of individuals who have been eliminated from candidacy or fired after a fraudulent résumé was uncovered.”

Job candidates seem to think that boosting their résumés is an easy solution to the weak economy. ADP, a business services provider, said that 46 per cent of employment, education and/or credential reference checks done in 2008 found inconsistencies between what the applicant presented and what the source reported. Even if all companies don’t have the time to do in-depth reference checks, it still doesn’t give job seekers the right to lie on their résumés. A company could find out later that you lied on your résumé, which may result in your dismissal from the business.

“If discrepancies are discovered, many companies maintain a no-tolerance policy on such matters and will move quickly to investigate and possibly terminate,” says Challenger. “In high-profile positions, where the discovery of résumé fraud often becomes public, the breach can taint all future attempts to find employment.”

Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc points out some top fabrications used during the interview process:

* Education: Write down degrees from schools never attended, inflate grade point averages and name degrees from online, non-accredited institutions.

* Job Title: Create a title or try to enhance a work title in order to get a higher salary offer.

* Compensation: Increase past or current salaries and benefits to obtain more money from a hiring manager.

* Reason for leaving: Blame a downsize in a company when he or she was really fired for poor performance.

— Creators News Service