Increased job duties, faked diplomas and altered employment dates… How reliable is the information on résumés? According to an OfficeTeam survey, it pays to be careful, with half of respondents saying they know someone who lied on their résumé.
If a résumé is too good to be true, it probably is. 44% of respondents in an OfficeTeam survey said they know someone who embellished his or her résumé in order to get a job.
The interview as a weapon against fraud in résumés
According to the survey, 47% of managers said that job applicants include dishonest information on their résumés somewhat or very often. A skilfully conducted job interview can be used to find both big and small lies, whether it is months added to a job experience or completely invented skills.
Some points should be analyzed in depth. Ambiguity or vague descriptions of skills (e.g. “familiar with” a particular skill, or “current” with a certain practice) may indicate that the person is trying to hide a lack of relevant experience. Don’t hesitate to have candidates repeat or clarify their explanations about specific skills. If the second answer appears to contradict the first, beware! Finally, check references thoroughly—previous employers will tell you the truth about the applicant, even if the résumé doesn’t.