How to Spot Lies on a Resume?
12 April 2013
Read by 2643 persons
Embellishing one's professional background has almost become the norm in these times of crisis. To check the facts and expose imposters, adopt the methods of the pros.
On paper, Jean-Philippe Gaillard was the perfect candidate. Except everything was false! Exposed in early 2012, this imposter, hired as director of Limoges airport, had pulled out all the stops: fake diplomas, fake work history, fake criminal record. The Limoges Chamber of Commerce and Industry, manager of the airport, had seen nothing. Denounced by a former partner after three months, the man was sentenced to one year in prison for fraud.
While not always so spectacular, cases of falsified resumes continue to make headlines. Last May, Yahoo! announced the resignation of its CEO after the discovery of "inaccuracies" in his resume: Scott Thompson had attributed to himself a fictitious computer science degree. According to a study by the Florian Mantione firm, 78% of candidates exaggerate their level of responsibility, 62% lie about the duration of their employment and 37% about their diplomas.
However, the survey also reveals that a large majority of managers do not check resumes. A surprising finding, given the stakes. "By recruiting without carrying out a minimum of checks, the company takes a huge risk! And the manager responsible for the recruitment plays their credibility," warns Thierry Verdier, founder of the 1001 Talents firm. Certainly, there is no question of considering all candidates as potential liars. But some precautions are necessary to ensure the veracity of their resume and their honesty.
Study the consistency of the resume and look for ambiguous phrases
A resume seems to match the profile you are looking for? Start by checking its overall coherence: is the title in line with the level of education and past experience? Is the information provided precise? "I am always wary of date ranges like "2009-2010," says Anne Demarchi, HR director at Silec Cable. The person may have worked two years in the company or may have only spent two months! Very often, this is used to hide periods of inactivity." If, on the contrary, these "gaps" are glaring or if you notice a sudden change, make sure they are explained. Of course, there is no question of drawing hasty conclusions or eliminating an atypical profile from the outset! "But anything that is not logical in a resume must be justifiable," says Thierry Verdier. Who immediately specifies: "A career that appears too smooth should also arouse suspicion."
Read the rest of the article on Capital.fr
Published February 25, 2013.
Posted April 12, 2013.
On paper, Jean-Philippe Gaillard was the perfect candidate. Except everything was false! Exposed in early 2012, this imposter, hired as director of Limoges airport, had pulled out all the stops: fake diplomas, fake work history, fake criminal record. The Limoges Chamber of Commerce and Industry, manager of the airport, had seen nothing. Denounced by a former partner after three months, the man was sentenced to one year in prison for fraud.
While not always so spectacular, cases of falsified resumes continue to make headlines. Last May, Yahoo! announced the resignation of its CEO after the discovery of "inaccuracies" in his resume: Scott Thompson had attributed to himself a fictitious computer science degree. According to a study by the Florian Mantione firm, 78% of candidates exaggerate their level of responsibility, 62% lie about the duration of their employment and 37% about their diplomas.
However, the survey also reveals that a large majority of managers do not check resumes. A surprising finding, given the stakes. "By recruiting without carrying out a minimum of checks, the company takes a huge risk! And the manager responsible for the recruitment plays their credibility," warns Thierry Verdier, founder of the 1001 Talents firm. Certainly, there is no question of considering all candidates as potential liars. But some precautions are necessary to ensure the veracity of their resume and their honesty.
Study the consistency of the resume and look for ambiguous phrases
A resume seems to match the profile you are looking for? Start by checking its overall coherence: is the title in line with the level of education and past experience? Is the information provided precise? "I am always wary of date ranges like "2009-2010," says Anne Demarchi, HR director at Silec Cable. The person may have worked two years in the company or may have only spent two months! Very often, this is used to hide periods of inactivity." If, on the contrary, these "gaps" are glaring or if you notice a sudden change, make sure they are explained. Of course, there is no question of drawing hasty conclusions or eliminating an atypical profile from the outset! "But anything that is not logical in a resume must be justifiable," says Thierry Verdier. Who immediately specifies: "A career that appears too smooth should also arouse suspicion."
Read the rest of the article on Capital.fr
Published February 25, 2013.
Posted April 12, 2013.
