Job hunters are no strangers to slight exaggeration on their CVs. Whilst it is always good to big yourself up when looking for a new job, there is a difference between stretching the truth and telling an outright lie.

Yet a recent survey by job site Adzuna.co.uk  has revealed that as many as a third of job hunters are doing just that.

Adzuna conducted a survey of 3,587 people either in, or looking for, employment. When asked if they had lied on their CV, a whopping 37 per cent, or just over a third, admitted to doing so at some stage in their professional career. Of those that had lied on their CV, 83 per cent said they still got the job, with 43 per cent stating that their lie directly contributed to them bagging the role.

According to 83 per cent of candidates who lied on their CV, their fib was never discovered by their boss or colleagues. Which is perhaps why 96 per cent of CV liars said they would do it again.

Most of the time survey respondents just wanted to "inflate the truth". Yet, according to Risk Advisory, there has been a rise in university degree falsification, in which a company supplies candidates with false degrees from universities that do not exist.

According to their survey, most people fib about their skillset (43 per cent), their work experience (39 per cent) and then their education (35 per cent).

According to the survey, the average CV fibber is usually male (58 per cent), aged between 25 and 34 (34 per cent), and looking for a job in marketing or advertising (17 per cent).

Other sectors where candidates were more likely to inflate the truth were: retail (14 per cent), finance (12 per cent) and law (12 cent).

Doug Monro, co-founder of Adzuna.co.uk, said candidates should never lie on their CVs: "It is best to find the right angle for your experience; dig deep and think about relevant tasks that you might not have realised you had. Tailor your skills and experience to fit the role you are applying for, because putting something that isn't true on your CV might get you the interview- but it won't get you the job."