Hiring managers and recruiters often find themselves in tough positions when they have to tell candidates bad news. A new survey from staffing firm Accountemps found that 40% of them admitted to stretching the truth or even lying to job seekers. Reasons for the deception ranged from wanting to spare applicants' feelings to avoiding lengthy explanations or complex legal issues. The survey also showed that half of managers said they had been "totally honest" when interacting with candidates. On the other hand, many hiring professionals conceded that honesty was the best policy when dealing with candidates due to its positive effect on companies' reputations.
