With unemployment rates at record highs and job competition about to get stiffer than ever, you might be tempted to fib on your resume. But wait! According to CareerBuilder, 75 percent of HR managers have spotted a lie on a resume (hint: that’s most of them). The lie doesn’t have to be a whopper, like inventing Post-Its or attending a college that doesn’t exist, to ruin your reputation.

The five most common resume lies:

• Skills. We know you want to hit all those “required skills” in the job posting. But if you don’t have a skill your resume says you do, especially if that skill is required to do the job, you’re going to be found out fast. Being up front about what you know and what you need to work on shows employers that you’re in tune with yourself and with reality. Which would you rather be: self‑aware or self-destructive?
• Responsibilities. Achievements and leadership roles are great, but since it only takes one phone call to verify your responsibilities, don’t say you managed a project or team when you didn’t. Instead, share great examples of the responsibilities you did have, including how you supported other projects and teams.
• Employment dates. Regardless of their employee-reference policy, most employers will verify this simple fact. So never take a chance on flubbing employment dates, even by a month or two. You can always explain work gaps on a resume, but a resume full of lies is harder to defend.
• Job titles. This is another point that most employers will verify, so why risk it? Your worth isn’t defined by your job title, it’s defined by your performance and achievements, especially when job titles vary across organizations.
• Education. One word: transcripts. So instead of making up or embellishing your education, make a case for why your education and experience match the position you’re applying for. If you’re still in school, list the degree you’re pursuing and your expected graduation date.

You don’t have to lie on your resume to get the job you want. If you’re not an exact match on paper, you can use your cover letter (and then hopefully your interview) to explain why you’re a great fit. Most hiring managers will consider strong candidates who don’t hit every technical skill, but they will disqualify even the strongest contender caught in a lie. Soft skills like passion and motivation and honesty transfer across all fields and speak to your character better than some fictitious bullet points.