Many job candidates, from recent college graduates to top-level executives, commit resume fraud. Most do it to move up the corporate ladder faster and farther than their competitors, while others do it just to get their foot in the door. Every thing from slight exaggerations to an outright lie is passed off as fact. Job candidates are willing to gamble their resume embellishments will go unnoticed, as companies grow increasingly burdened with the cumbersome task of recruiting and hiring.
How widespread is resume fraud? The numbers are significant. The American Society for Personnel Administration reports that 25 to 75 percent of all resumes are embellished. An informal survey of more than 1,200 job candidates conducted by Smith James Group found at least one misrepresentation on 21 percent of the resumes sampled. According to the FBI, approximately half a million people in the United States falsely claim to have college degrees.
When performing reference checks, avoid asking questions that require a yes or no answer. Open-ended questions such as the following will reveal patterns in the candidate’s performance:
* What level of management is the candidate capable of attaining?
* Which professional and personal skills will the candidate need for your position?
* What are the candidate’s management style, strengths and weaknesses?
* What is the candidate’s reputation with his or her superiors, peers, subordinates and clients?
* Does the candidate communicate well both orally and in writing?
* What are the candidate’s problem-solving, planning and implementation skills?
* What is a fair description of the candidates work ethic?
* How will the candidate handle the transition to a new job, company, or location?
* How does the candidate perform under stress?
Remember that reference investigation is one of the most important steps in the hiring process. This information will minimize the risk of hiring an unqualified candidate, and reduce your company’s exposure to legal and financial liability.
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