How to Spot Resume Lies

By HRNewsDaily

In a period of intense competition and shrinking budgets, recruiting, hiring and retaining the best employees is essential. The cost of a lousy hire is just too high.

One problem—many people, in their quest to get a job, will not be accurate—or truthful—on a resume.

With a few easy steps, you can protect you and your business from someone who tries to lie to get the job:

On the application:

All applicants must complete a job application, even if they have already submitted a resume. Applications must state that references will be checked, and providing false information on a job application can be the grounds for immediate dismissal.

During the interview:

The most commonly falsified item on the resume is education. Check training and the degrees listed, to see if they were actually earned. Ask specific questions on courses of study related to the job requirements. Does the candidate have the necessary skills and qualifications to do the job? They should be reflected on the application, and should be able to answer questions relating to those skills.

Some positions require specialized skills; ask specific technical questions about or have the candidate complete a skills assessment interview, separate from the primary employment interview.

Checking references:

Thoroughly checking references will help identify and explain any discrepancies in the resume/application. The work history should tell a story—a complete picture of the candidate’s employment history.

Fortunately, various state laws give employers qualified immunity to provide accurate and factual information regarding job performance of former employees. On the application, the candidate should sign a statement allowing you to obtain information from previous employers.

There are employer limitations on the scope of background checks, so performing a background check must comply with requirements of the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Finding the right expertise to help business make it through tough economic times, but hiring should never be a difficult or complex task. By diligence, and a little investigative skill, a hiring manager or human resources professional can catch a falsified resume before a new hire turns into a drain on business.