Finance recruitment firm Robert Half International found a significantly high number of employers complaining about job applicants who have exaggerated their work experience during the recruitment process.

The recruitment firm discovered through a survey that 61 percent of finance, accounting, and human resources professionals are starting to become frustrated by candidates had overstated their background. Robert Half director Andrew Brushfield said, “While confidence is a good thing, boasting deceives the interviewer and leads to candidates being placed in positions they aren't qualified for.”

Brushfield emphasized on hiring the right people in a job would require putting the candidates “through their paces during the recruitment process to ensure they have real-world experience.”

“Not only does exaggerating your level of experience look bad, but it leads to stress and anxiety, as both you and your employer discover you are unqualified for the role,” he advised.

Aside from exaggerating, the survey of 345 firms, found that candidates were also asking for unrealistic pay packages. Fifty percent of employers claimed the salary expectations of candidates were too high.

"The discussion of a skills shortage in the finance sector is leading employees to think that they can demand more, despite lacking the necessary experience," Brushfield explained.

The recruitment firm head highly recommended being honest about capabilities and demonstrating a keen interest in professional development will be appealing to an employer.