In today’s competitive job market, many applicants have adopted deceptive practices. In an effort to be set apart from the rest, many job applicants lie on their resume. Many sources estimate that 40% of all resumes contain some type of false or misleading information. Most Common Lies:
- Dates of Employment – applicants may lie about how long they worked for a previous employer to cover up being fired or unexplained gaps in employment.
- College Degrees- applicants may claim they completed a degree from a school they did attend, but may not have received all the required credits or will present a fake degree that they purchased online.
- Accomplishments/Experience – Everyone wants to be set apart from the rest. Applicants embellish their accomplishments to grab the attention of the reader and ensure they get an interview. Examples: increasing a company’s sales revenue, receiving awards for outstanding service, developing new innovative policy or procedures.
- Salary and Position Held – in an effort to receive higher pay, some applicants lie about their title and salary of a previous position.
Proper verification of the information presented on the resume will save your company thousands of dollars in turnover cost. Although it can be a tedious task, it is essential to properly screen and verify information on an applicants resume. Many companies have found it easier and less time consuming to outsource these tasks to third parties companies who specialize in verification and background screening. Remember: An applicant who is dishonest will become an employee who is dishonest.
