The number of candidates lying on their CVs has reached a three-year high in the financial sector, according to research from pre-employment screening firm Powerchex.

The research found that one in five jobseeker’s CVs contain a major untruth, while there has been a 30% increase in the number of young employees lying on their CVs.

The research also shows that the number of IT contractors with less than truthful CVs had trebled to 18%.

Emma Entwhistle, head of recruitment services at IT staffing firm Crimson Skills, told Recruiterthat industry knowledge was key to weeding out candidates that were being economical with the truth.

“I have been in IT recruitment 15 years. The way that most recruitment works is on buzzwords. It takes a long time if you are non-technical to keep up to date with technology.

“You have got to put the time in as a recruiter to keep your knowledge up to date and I think that is where a lot of recruiters are falling down.

“Get a proper appreciation of what contractors do rather than recruiting off buzzwords. Properly understand the role and don’t just recruit off the job spec.”