You wouldn’t dream of lying on your resume, but unfortunately, everyone doesn’t share this sentiment. When filling an open position on your team, it’s important to review resumes with a sharp eye, because there’s a good chance there’s a least a few dishonest candidates in the mix.
In fact, 75% of human resource managers have caught a lie on a resume, according to CareerBuilder. Given these odds, it’s important to know red flags to look for and how to catch a liar in the act.
Incorrect Employment Dates
It’s common knowledge that employment gaps and job-hopping aren’t a good look, so dishonest candidates have been known to do a little editing. For example, if they were unemployed from April to July, they might list a job end date as July instead of April.
Bogus Jobs
Everyone wants an impressive resume, and unfortunately, some people are willing to lie for it. There are many different ways to lie about a job they never technically had, from completely making up the position to claiming they worked for a certain company, while in reality, they were contracted by an outside employer.
A few key warning signs might include major jumps in job titles and notably vague job descriptions. If something seems suspicious, always investigate.
False Credentials
To be viewed as a more competitive candidate, some people will list degrees and certifications they don’t have on their resume. This could include education they’ve started but haven’t finished or a completely bogus listing. Either way, if they claim to have completed a program they haven’t, it’s still lying.
Elaborated Skills and Accomplishments
Many people believe embellishing the truth isn’t a lie, but it is. If a candidate has minimal experience with a certain skill but claims to be an expert, you might hire them under false pretenses. Similarly, if someone claims an achievement as their own, but it was actually something they accomplished as part of a group, they’re hiding key information.
How to Uncover a Resume Lie
Some resumes lies are blatant, but others require a bit of investigating. There are several ways to catch a liar in the act, including asking interview questions aimed at targeting inconsistencies — i.e., liars often forget what they wrote — checking references, researching them on social media, and requiring people to submit copies of their transcripts and professional licenses. Being diligent requires extra effort, but the peace of mind in knowing you hired an honest candidate makes it worthwhile.
Separating fact from fiction on resumes is hard work, so stop trying to manage the process alone. Malone Workforce Solutions wants to help you find light industrial honest candidates who are truly a great fit for your company. Contact us today to discuss a partnership!
