Lying on a CV in an attempt to secure a job is a big gamble, applicants have been warned.

The caution, which has been issued by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), follows Lee McQueen’s victory in BBC television show The Apprentice, despite being found to have lied on his CV.

A former salesman, Mr McQueen won the £100,000-a-year job with Sir Alan, beating rival Clare Young into second place.

According to research conducted by the CIPD, in one year a quarter of employers in the UK withdrew job offers after discovering someone had lied in their application for a position.

"You may be lucky enough to get an employer like Sir Alan Sugar who’s willing to give you a second chance. But then most job interviews don’t last 11 weeks and don’t offer so many second chances," stated CIPD recruitment adviser Deborah Fernon.

She added that employers still place a high value on the honesty of their workers.