Many of us are inclined to lie to get ahead, and research has shown that more than 50% of people lie on their resumes.

Fake degrees, fabricated work history, little extensions of dates here and there. I can understand the motivation to lie to move your career forward, but I don’t get how people live with the possible consequences. What if you get caught and you don’t land the job you’ve been hoping for? What if you land the job and your deceptions are later discovered? Is it worth living day-to-day in fear that your lie will be detected? And guess what — employers are catching on to the rampant lying and conducting more thorough background checks.

Bottom line: The potential benefits of lying on your resume do not outweigh the risks.