A recent CareerBuilder survey analyzing resumes revealed 3 in 4 HR managers reported having found a lie on a resume.

Other results showed that 39 percent of HR managers, the gatekeepers to their companies, say they spend less than a minute looking at resumes; nearly 20 percent say they spend less than 30 seconds. 

The need to stand out could be making some applicants turn to embellishments.

"If crafted well, your resume is one of the most valuable marketing tools you have," Rosemary Haefner, chief human resources officer at CareerBuilder, said in a statement. "In a matter of seconds, it can make or break your chances of moving along the hiring journey with a company. That's why it's important to be proactive with your resume and avoid embellishments or mistakes. Take advantage of the tools available to you — the worst thing you can do is send a generic copy out to employers and then sit and hope for a response."

CareerBuilder used Harris Poll to conduct the survey online between May 24 and June 16. More than 2,500 full-time, U.S. employers across many industries were involved in the survey.