Job-seekers should think twice before writing lies on their resumes; stretching the truth may cost a job opportunity. Forty-nine percent of hiring managers, according to a survey by CareerBuilder.com that questioned more than 3,100 hiring managers and over 8,700 workers, say they have discovered a job applicant lying on his or her resume. Although almost half of managers found fictional details, only 8 percent of workers admitted to lying on their resume.

Thirty-six percent of hiring managers still considered candidates with false resume items, but didn't hire them. Only 6 percent of managers offered jobs to job-seekers with falsified applications.

Most applicants (38 percent) embellished their responsibilities. Eighteen percent of workers lied on skill set, 12 percent fabricated dates of employment, 10 percent wrote false academic degrees, 7 percent lied about previous companies and 5 percent fabricated his or her job title.

Hospitality, transportation/utilities and information technology had the highest occurrences of resume lies, while government jobs came in with the least amount of lying incidents.

"Even the slightest embellishment can come back to haunt you and ruin your credibility," says Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources.

"If you're concerned about gaps in employment, your academic background or skill sets, invention is not the answer. Use your cover letter strategically to tell your story, focusing on your strengths and accomplishments and explaining any areas of concern if needed."

Hiring managers provide the most unusual lies they discovered on resumes. Here are some instances:

— Claimed to have been a professional baseball player.

— Claimed to have worked for the hiring manager before, but never had.

— Claimed to be the CEO of a company when the applicant was an hourly employee.

— Listed military experience dating back to before he was born.

— Invented a school that did not exist.

— Claimed to be a member of the Kennedy family.

Haefner provides suggestions to create an unforgettable resume for the right reasons:

— Send resume early. One-in-five employers say they are getting more resumes than last year. Apply to an open position early; sign up for job alerts that e-mails available job listings.

— Showcase skills and accomplishments to stand out. Forty-three percent of hiring managers spend one minute or less reviewing a resume, and 14 percent read for less than 30 seconds.

— Write keywords. Hiring managers may use electronic scanners to order candidates based on a keyword search. The keywords used most often (ranked from common to least frequent) include: problem-solving and decision-making skills, oral and written communication, customer service, performance and productivity improvement, leadership, technology, team-building, project management and bilingual.

For more information, visit www.careerbuilder.com.

STRENGTHEN BUSINESS

The sluggish economy shouldn't be an excuse for companies to panic and worry. Business owners need to take the time to improve their company and grab every potential opportunity, according to David Giannetto, co-author of "The Performance Power Grid: The Proven Method to Create and Sustain Superior Organizational Performance."

"The word 'recession' by itself has been known to send business owners into a panic," says Giannetto.

"Making it through this economic slowdown won't be a piece of cake for anyone, but if you know the best steps to take, you will be able to come out on the other side of this recession with a very sound business in place."

Giannetto provides tips to strengthen a business during the slow times:

— Keep the same tactics as used during positive economic periods. Continue to focus on creating a strong business.

— Use the fearful hype to motivate employees. Your workers can help the company by giving the best service to clients.

— Try to expand your company instead of downsize. Your weakest competitor will go out of business, leaving available employees and resources.

— Meet the needs of customers. Clients are also experiencing the slow economy; try to accommodate their requirements.

— Maintain creativity and future ideas. The economy will turn around. Don't be left with outdated services when the market becomes more in demand.

"The point of all of this is that the words 'economic downturn' don't have to mean only bad news to your business," adds Giannetto.

To find out more about Amy Winter and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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