Have you intentionally lied on your resume? The infographic shares some interesting percentages. As a business owner, are you verifying the information potential hires have provided on their resumes? Should you?
Depending on the company and position applied for, a thorough background check may or may not be needed. It is good practice to put a background check of some type in place and follow the guidelines for each applicant in that position. If the position requires a degree, it is reasonable to verify with a reputable service the degree was received. Given the technology of today it is easy to fake diplomas and sadly many will do so to get the job they want.
Verifications of past employment can be tricky. How many of us can remember the exact dates of every position held for the past 10 years or more? But how much off is considered reasonable? A month here or there is not really a big deal, but 6 months is that reasonable? This is an area where you need to know the cut off you are comfortable with and stick by that for every applicant. What do you do when you find a discrepancy? Simply ask the applicant for an explanation. There could be an acceptable explanation including the following:
- Started as a temp, couldn’t remember the exact date hired (in this case you would then want to verify the temp employment)
- Started as a 1099 contractor, then hired on several months later (the payroll department would have the actual employment records, where the 1099 information could be maintained by the accounting department)
- The company was bought out, worked for the previous company 4 years before the buy out
- Was on medical leave two different occasions, the company adjusted the service date
In each of these situations, further checking would be acceptable. Not all companies have the same internal procedures, so at times the HR department doesn’t have the full picture. In the case of companies going out of business, there are often times no way to verify. Dependent on your company and the position, you could ask for a check stub or W-2 from that company as verification. The key here is to be sure you follow that procedure in each similar case. Not doing this can lead you into a discrimination case.
As an employer, you want the best and most qualified employee for the job. A verified resume or application is the best way to ensure you are getting what and who you are paying for.
For more information on hiring practices or for assistance with hiring the right person for your company, please contact the experts at CyQuest today!