While I agree with the others about lying on a resume how about reverse (i.e. when the employer lies to you about the position)? This is probably more rampant than lying on resumes. Back when I used to job hunt, which is before I decided that self-employment beats any job, I used to see so many ads for things like "management trainees" or something which sounded similarly promising (at least to an 18-year old looking for a summer job). All these ads promised the world. When you went and actually applied for the job it was basically a commission-based sales position.
I can't say how much time I wasted going to these places only to walk right out the door once I discovered what the job really was. And then of course there are ads for other positions where they at least label the position
somewhat correctly but greatly embellish what you'll actually doing. For example, they might say you'll be an electronics technician responsible for repairing, diagnosing, and modifying sensitive equipment (with plenty of opportunities for advancement). When you actually get the job all you'll be doing is adding 3 resistors to the same type of circuit board for years on end, and making a big $7 an hour with little hope of a raise until you're there at least a decade. A more accurate ad would have said something like entry level electronics assembly position.
While I'm not a fan of lying or making excuses for lying, I can understand people padding their resumes so long as employers insist on padding their ads for various positions. Honesty is the best policy. Describe a job accurately so I don't waste my time coming in for nothing and the employer doesn't waste time with a candidate with no interest in the type of position they're offering. I'll reciprocate by describing my credentials and the type of postion I'm seeking accurately and honestly.
BTW, I've heard most of the better jobs are never advertised in the newspapers but through word of mouth. If you don't have a network of sorts, you're basically screwed as far as employment goes.