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Job Applicants' Resumes Are Often Riddled with Misinformation
LEAD STORY-DATELINE: Knight Ridder Tribune Business News
In a news piece, Joan Fleischer Tamen reports that according to workplace and legal experts, in the past year resume fraud-and the detection of it-appears to be on the rise. This may be due to the competitive job market and more stringent background checking since September 11, 2001. A survey by HireRight, a company that checked the resumes of more than 200,000 applicants in 2002, showed that 80% of all resumes are misleading. According to HireRight, 20% listed fraudulent degrees, 30% altered employment dates, 40% inflated salaries, 30% had inaccurate job descriptions, 25% said they worked at companies that no longer exist, and 27% gave falsified references.
The onus is on the employer to do reference and background checks before offering a candidate a job. Shannon Hurley of Robert Half International said, "I look for 'weasel wording' like 'participated in' or 'in association with'. Look for vaguely worded job responsibilities and unexplained gaps in employment." According to experts, small business owners should have all candidates complete a detailed application form, which, unlike a resume, can be considered a legal document. It should include a sentence that says all the information is correct and be signed by the applicant. A prospective employer should do strategic interviews with applicants to make sure gaps in employment are explained and conduct thorough reference checks with at least three former supervisors. Obtain a written release from applicants allowing you to check references and do a background screening that may include criminal, financial or driving history.
According to employment lawyer Anne Marie Estevez of Morgan Lewis & Bockius, hiring people who turn out to have fake credentials can pose myriad problems for employers and recruiters, from having an unqualified person on the job to legal liability for negligent hiring. If an employer finds out an employee has lied about a significant qualification, that employee can be fired. Now employers can also use the misinformation to defend against lawsuits for wrongful termination or discrimination. "In nearly 80 percent of all problem employees, we find that there was resume or application fraud," says Estevez, who recently defended a South Florida manufacturer in firing an employee for attendance issues. "It turns out all five previous employers had the same problem with him."
Job Applicants' Resumes Are Often Riddled with Misinformation
Joan Fleischer Tamen; Knight Ridder Tribune Business News; Washington
Feb. 24--The job candidate was a shoo-in for a six-figure top management technical position. His work experience, technical skills and personality were a perfect match.
The company was ready to offer him the job -- until they learned he had lied on his resume about graduating from college.
SOME THINGS THAT RESUME FAKERS MAY FORGET TO TELL YOU:
- They didn't graduate from the college listed on the resume, but took a class or two there.
- They don't have the listed certification, but are studying for it.
- They got fired from a previous employer not listed on the resume.
- They have a felony conviction.
- The number listed as a previous employer is not for a business. It's for a buddy who's ready with an outstanding reference.
- SOURCE: The Human Equation