A new iHire survey explores the extent of controversial job search and workplace behaviors, including ghosting, stretching the truth in interviews and on resumes, quitting a job without notice, and more. The employment platform polled a Qualtrics market research panel comprising 1,645 U.S. workers across various industries and discovered:
- 21.6% of workers have quit a job without giving their employer notice
- 16.5% have quit a new job within the first two weeks
- 16.2% have stretched the truth in a job interview
- 14.0% have participated in a Zoom call/video conference in unprofessional attire, such as their underwear or pajamas
- 10.9% have ghosted an employer/didn’t show up for a job interview
- 9.4% have secretly held a second job/held another job without either employer knowing
- 8.9% have lied on their resume
Additionally, iHire broke down the survey results by respondents’ generations, unveiling the following insights:
- 23.2% of millennials admitted to participating in a video call in unprofessional attire – more than baby boomers (4.9%), Gen Xers (11.0%), and Gen Zers (16.7%).
- 20.8% of Gen Zers have stretched the truth in a job interview, compared to 12.9% of baby boomers, 15.6% of Gen Xers, and 15.5% of millennials.
- Just 2.7% of baby boomers admit to lying on their resumes, significantly lower than the 10.0% of Gen Xers, 12.1% of millennials, and 10.9% of Gen Zers who have done so.
- More Gen Xers (27.4%) and millennials (27.4%) have quit jobs without giving their employer notice than their baby boomer (12.2%) and Gen Z (19.2%) counterparts.
- 15.3% of Gen Z employees have ghosted an employer by not showing up for an interview, and 12.5% of Gen Xers and 12.6% of millennials admitted to the same. However, just 3.4% of baby boomers have ghosted an employer for an interview.
“Candidates must understand that their behaviors during their job search or at work affect their reputation and personal brand,” said Lori Cole, Certified Career Coach and Advisor, iHire. “For example, ghosting an employer or quitting a job without notice can burn bridges, and lying on your resume can come back to bite you. Moreover, secretly holding a second job can negatively impact your performance and, in some cases, violate company policies and damage trust. While we all have our favorite pair of pajamas, iHire encourages job seekers to get dressed and focus on professionalism, integrity, and relationship-building to create long-term career success.”
For a deeper dive into iHire’s survey findings, visit our Resource Center. Additional data points will be shared in an upcoming report on the multi-generational workforce, set to be published in May.
Research Methodology
iHire surveyed a Qualtrics market research panel of 1,645 U.S. workers representing four generations: baby boomers, Gen Xers, millennials, and Gen Zers. Surveys were fielded in March 2025, and data was collected through the Qualtrics XM platform. All percentages are rounded to the nearest tenth.
Explore HRtech News for the latest Tech Trends in Human Resources Technology
