A careers expert has prompted debate and discussion after she revealed the results of a poll that found 46 percent of people would lie during a job interview.
Madeline Mann is the founder of Self Made Millennial. With a background in HR and recruiting, she has used her insider knowledge of the hiring process to offer career coaching and advice.
With thousands of followers across TikTok, Instagram and LinkedIn, Mann often shares her insights and advice about jobs and careers online.
In her recent video, which garnered over 12,000 views on TikTok, she shared the results of a poll answered by her followers, posing a straightforward question: “Do you think it’s okay to lie during a job interview?” The responses were close, with 54 percent advocating for telling the truth and 46 percent admitting they would lie.
“I was shocked to see that 46 percent of people say yeah, it’s OK to lie in a job interview,” Mann said. Before elaborating on some of the common things that job seekers lie about.
@selfmademillennial/TikTok
Common lies include feigned enthusiasm for a role or misrepresenting their reasons for leaving their previous jobs. Interviewees may also neglect to mention, or inflate, their current salary or their commitment to staying in the role.
“I’d say that a lot of these comments are fairly harmless,” said Mann. “And hey, companies lie a lot. On their job description, in the job interview. It’s very deceptive.”
Mann told Newsweek: “From working in Human Resources, and hiring thousands of people, it becomes apparent what was true and false once someone joins the company. It’s clear that many people lie, while also telling the truth can sometimes get people rejected.”
In the comments, social media users were generally supportive of the idea of lying in an interview.
Viewer Amy wrote: “I mean people want to eat and want their children to eat. So yes…I think it’s okay.”
While Carlos wrote: “My dad lied during his interview and has been at that company for over 26 years. He’s considered one of their best employees. So it worked for him!”
Other TikTokers shared the things they would be willing to lie about in an interview.
“I think I’d probably ‘lie’ by not wearing my wedding ring, I’ve heard too many stories of young married women being turned down because of the possibility of pregnancy,” said Sophia.
But Mann highlighted the risks of lying in an interview. “There are certainly times when sharing too much is going to get you rejected…But in the end, a job interview should be a process where both sides are vetting each other to find the best mutual match, and you don’t want that to be built on lies,” she said.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.