RGRU: Fake Experience in IT

2026-04-17 11:38

A recent hh.ru survey in the North Caucasian Federal District found that only 12% of employers had never encountered false information in CVs. In other words, nearly nine out of ten employers have dealt with the problem. So how can you tell when a candidate is giving misleading information?

Andrey Boyko, Head of Recruitment at Selecty:

«It is harder to spot at the CV-screening stage, but it is still possible. For example, check whether a candidate’s education, experience and length of time in each role are consistent. Well-known companies or senior positions appearing too early in someone’s career can be a red flag.
During the first interview, you can ask about specific processes, achievements or technical details, provided the HR specialist knows enough to dig a little deeper. If the candidate really did the work, they usually have something concrete to say».

The main issue is that many more people are looking for jobs while fewer positions are available. As a result, some candidates feel pressure to exaggerate their CVs in order to stand out among a large number of applicants. Unfortunately, some go too far.

Andrey Boyko, Head of Recruitment at Selecty:

“There was a widely discussed case on social media in which a candidate was hired by a major Russian video platform. He claimed to have completed his probationary period successfully and to have handled his tasks well. But the employer later discovered that he belonged to online groups known for boosting CVs, and he openly admitted to adding fake achievements to his application. The company confronted him, said he had broken its rules, and asked him to resign voluntarily.”

Employers usually prefer to dismiss employees who misrepresent their experience, because such people are often paid more than their true level of qualification justifies. This wastes both time and money, since the role could have gone to someone genuinely qualified.

Trust is another major issue. It is especially important in IT teams, which are often small groups of 10–12 people. Once trust has been broken, it is very difficult to rebuild.