Over the last few years we have seen a significant rise in unemployment rates nationwide, some of the highest in the last few decades actually. To some recruiters this is a dream come true due to the overflow of applicants that they now have, but to the true Talent Scouts this is a complete nightmare. Why? Because now it is that much more difficult to find that top 1%. I have always been a firm believer that a resume is a limited representation of the candidate. So if this is indeed the case, what does this say about them when the majority of the information in their resume is fabricated and/or inaccurate? It says that they are dishonest and they were willing to lie to get the job. Thus, chances are they will be dishonest once they are hired and with the economy being what it is, there are very few companies that can afford the huge expense of a bad hire.
Being aware of the common lies applicants tell, allows you to arm yourself with the knowledge and tools necessary to minimize the chances of a bad hire. Some of the most common things lied about in resumes and applications according to a nationally recognized background screening firm (esr.com) include:
1- Job Title/ Responsibilities: Working in a fast growing call center environment has exposed to me to thousands of people from all backgrounds and walks of life and it seems the more people you interview the easier it becomes to spot inaccuracies, lies and exaggerations. What I have found to be the easiest way to spot these types of "self- proclaimed promotions" is by asking them very specific questions. So if they claim to be a store manager (even if you don't know in specific what they do- you kind of have an idea of what is expected of them) you would ask questions such as: A) How did you measure your team's performance? B) How did you deal with employees that weren't performing? C) What were your individual goals as a manager and team goals? Questions like these should be no problem for someone who has been in the position, but to someone who hasn't its a surefire way to stop them in their tracks. Another easy way would be by checking their references (but this would only work if their references are accurate).
2-Claiming a degree not earned- This seems to be a very common trend nowadays and it it comes in many different forms. The first one is where people award themselves a degree even though they still had credits to complete or only attended for a few semesters. The second one is where people claim to have graduated from schools they never even attended- now that's gutsy because with the internet what it is today and by simply asking some probing questions this is the simplest one to catch. Lastly there are those that simply buy there degree online for "3 easy installments of $49.95". They purchase these degrees from Degree Mills, these "Mills" often offer transcripts and even phone numbers that employers can call to verify that they attended. Talk about committing to your lie. But again, this can be verified by running an education background check.
3-Dates of Employment: No one wants to look like they are a job hopper, inexperienced or unstable so this is something that is common regardless of position or age. If this is not dug up during the interview process than the next easiest way to verify this is by calling references or simply running an employment verification check. But remember if your gut is telling you that there is something not right- than chances are that you are probably right and you should dig, dig, dig.
4-Compensation: Times are tough and its ok to exaggerate a little about your salary history so we can get that nice bump in pay, right? Wrong! There is no excuse for being dishonest, period. Every application I have always seen asks for the desired salary, so why not be honest with what you are looking or hoping to make- if they are qualified and deserve it than chances are they will probably get what they are looking for regardless of what they were making before. But when they sit in front of me lying to me and telling me they were making $50k a year when they only made $30k and are looking to make $60k- this is not only unacceptable but can also cause your company some major bucks.
5- Criminal Background- Different companies have different standards and different tolerance levels on what is acceptable and what isn't in the background checks. One thing I do know is that most applications if not all, specifically ask if they have ever been convicted of a crime and to please specify. So, this to me is their amnesty period in which they need to be 100% honest. If not, no matter how small the infraction if not declared up front is considered dishonest and a possible reason for termination.
These are just some of the things that people tend to lie about in their resumes and applications but as I mentioned before some of these can easily be verified during the interview process by asking very thorough and specific questions, as you should be doing anyways. If a pre-screening/ background check is not in place in your workplace I would highly suggest that you implement one as it is a smart business investment. Remember that there is nothing wrong with trusting as long as you verify.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
Six Serious Résumé Blunders
Résumés are tricky: If done well, they can put you in the running for a job; if done poorly, they end up in the hiring manager's recycling bin. They should be easy since you're just talking about yourself. No one knows your work history, qualifications and skills better than you. Unfortunately, they are hard work.
Making years of experience fit on one or two pages is no easy task. Yet, while there is no one way to craft the perfect résumé, there are some moves guaranteed to hurt your job hunt.
Here are some résumé blunders you should avoid at all cost.
1. Forgetting the employer
Although the résumé is about you, it's not for you. After all, if you were the intended audience, you wouldn't bother sending it out. The résumé is meant to show prospective employers why you're the perfect match for the job. They want to see the skills, experience and qualifications mentioned in their job postings. If you have skills that don't line up exactly with the position but you know are transferrable, make that clear in the résumé. Don't assume they'll infer what you mean, because if they don't, you won't be considered for the job.
Although the résumé is about you, it's not for you. After all, if you were the intended audience, you wouldn't bother sending it out. The résumé is meant to show prospective employers why you're the perfect match for the job. They want to see the skills, experience and qualifications mentioned in their job postings. If you have skills that don't line up exactly with the position but you know are transferrable, make that clear in the résumé. Don't assume they'll infer what you mean, because if they don't, you won't be considered for the job.
2. Not using keywords
Keywords, like career summaries, are signs of the time. Today, many employers use software to scan submitted résumés for keywords that suggest an applicant is a good match for the job. Although you won't know which exact words the software is looking for, a job posting can give you a good idea. Incorporate phrases and terms from the posting, and see what words reappear in several industry ads. Concrete terms such as "infrastructure development" and "strategic planning" will fare better than generic phrases like "hard worker" and "team player."
Keywords, like career summaries, are signs of the time. Today, many employers use software to scan submitted résumés for keywords that suggest an applicant is a good match for the job. Although you won't know which exact words the software is looking for, a job posting can give you a good idea. Incorporate phrases and terms from the posting, and see what words reappear in several industry ads. Concrete terms such as "infrastructure development" and "strategic planning" will fare better than generic phrases like "hard worker" and "team player."
3. Using an objective instead of a career summary
An advantage of updating your résumé regularly is that you can not only update your skills and accomplishments but also its format. For example, just five or 10 years ago most résumés included an objective at the top. These days, the career summary has taken its place. Like an objective, the summary should give the employer an idea of who you are, except it allows you to focus more on your experience than on your goals. You can briefly mention your career highlights, including past roles and your strongest skills.
An advantage of updating your résumé regularly is that you can not only update your skills and accomplishments but also its format. For example, just five or 10 years ago most résumés included an objective at the top. These days, the career summary has taken its place. Like an objective, the summary should give the employer an idea of who you are, except it allows you to focus more on your experience than on your goals. You can briefly mention your career highlights, including past roles and your strongest skills.
4. Not proofreading
Typos and grammatical errors on a résumé are the textual equivalent of showing up at an interview chewing gum and wearing tennis shoes. A résumé full of mistakes suggests you care neither about the quality of your work nor the impression it makes. An employer wants someone who produces exemplary work and will be an excellent representative of the company.
Typos and grammatical errors on a résumé are the textual equivalent of showing up at an interview chewing gum and wearing tennis shoes. A résumé full of mistakes suggests you care neither about the quality of your work nor the impression it makes. An employer wants someone who produces exemplary work and will be an excellent representative of the company.
5. Lying
Embellishing is a common practice that rarely impresses hiring mangers because they've seen it all. They know "childcare leadership executive" means "baby-sitter." Outright lies, however, have no place on a résumé. For one thing, it's not hard to verify any information you put down, so you could get caught at any point between submitting your résumé and getting a job offer. Plus, it's a small world, and the truth has a way of coming out when business associates bump into one another at conferences. If your boss mentions your name to your supposed former supervisor only to be told you never worked there, you could get fired.
Embellishing is a common practice that rarely impresses hiring mangers because they've seen it all. They know "childcare leadership executive" means "baby-sitter.
6. Not keeping up appearances
Before an employer even reads your résumé, he or she forms an impression based on how it looks. It's a snap judgment that can't be avoided -- after all, don't you immediately zone out when you receive an e-mail that's one huge block of text? Make your résumé visually appealing by using bulleted lists, plenty of white space and subheadings. Also, avoid fonts that are full of distracting swirls and colors. It doesn't matter how well-written your résumé is if no one wants to read it.
Before an employer even reads your résumé, he or she forms an impression based on how it looks. It's a snap judgment that can't be avoided -- after all, don't you immediately zone out when you receive an e-mail that's one huge block of text? Make your résumé visually appealing by using bulleted lists, plenty of white space and subheadings. Also, avoid fonts that are full of distracting swirls and colors. It doesn't matter how well-written your résumé is if no one wants to read it.
Anthony Balderrama is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.
Copyright 2009 CareerBuilder.com. All rights reserved. The information contained in this article may not be published, broadcast or otherwise distributed without prior written authority.
By Anthony Balderrama
By Anthony Balderrama
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