Diploma Fraud: Almost Half of Candidates Cheat on Their CVs
29 September 2014
Read by 4049 persons
While a few high-profile cases have caught attention, the phenomenon of "CV fraud" is far more widespread than one might think.
According to a book to be released this Thursday, the first secretary of the PS (Socialist Party), Jean-Christophe Cambadélis, allegedly misrepresented some of his diplomas before submitting his thesis. The person denies it, but the situation highlights a phenomenon that is more common than one believes: CV fraud, ranging from slightly exaggerating a job description to claiming a diploma that was never earned. A few well-known cases - such as the usurpation of the title of philosophy agrégé by Grand Rabbi Gilles Bernheim or the ambiguity surrounding the doctorates of Justice Minister Christine Taubira - have attracted attention. But at all levels, there is no shortage of examples.
This is highlighted by a study carried out in February 2013 by the recruitment firm Florian Mantione Institut. The 352 companies and HR directors surveyed responded that 33% of candidates "often" or "always" claimed a false diploma. More broadly, almost half of French recruiters (46%) believe candidates inflate their CVs. These impressive figures are partly explained by the fact that many recruiters admit they do not verify the background declared by candidates. Yet, when they do, they are surprised in more than a quarter of cases. Based on this observation, Emmanuel Chomarat created a diploma verification structure in 2011, called Verifdiploma. For him, "whoever they are" and "in all strata of society," individuals lie about their diplomas. Of the 4,553 diplomas that his corporate clients entrusted to him for verification between 2010 and 2012, 1,192, or 26%, were inaccurate.
While applicants most often cheat on their previous responsibilities (75%), language skills (73%), or even salary (50%), the importance of the diploma is significant, especially for schools wishing to protect their "brand." A young company, CVTrust, has positioned itself in this area by offering the certification of diplomas and other academic documents in digital format. HEC and Sciences Po have already adopted this tool, making it possible to integrate their digital diploma into their profile on professional social networks.
Julie-Anne De Queiroz.
Lefigaro.fr
Posted online September 29, 2014.
According to a book to be released this Thursday, the first secretary of the PS (Socialist Party), Jean-Christophe Cambadélis, allegedly misrepresented some of his diplomas before submitting his thesis. The person denies it, but the situation highlights a phenomenon that is more common than one believes: CV fraud, ranging from slightly exaggerating a job description to claiming a diploma that was never earned. A few well-known cases - such as the usurpation of the title of philosophy agrégé by Grand Rabbi Gilles Bernheim or the ambiguity surrounding the doctorates of Justice Minister Christine Taubira - have attracted attention. But at all levels, there is no shortage of examples.
This is highlighted by a study carried out in February 2013 by the recruitment firm Florian Mantione Institut. The 352 companies and HR directors surveyed responded that 33% of candidates "often" or "always" claimed a false diploma. More broadly, almost half of French recruiters (46%) believe candidates inflate their CVs. These impressive figures are partly explained by the fact that many recruiters admit they do not verify the background declared by candidates. Yet, when they do, they are surprised in more than a quarter of cases. Based on this observation, Emmanuel Chomarat created a diploma verification structure in 2011, called Verifdiploma. For him, "whoever they are" and "in all strata of society," individuals lie about their diplomas. Of the 4,553 diplomas that his corporate clients entrusted to him for verification between 2010 and 2012, 1,192, or 26%, were inaccurate.
While applicants most often cheat on their previous responsibilities (75%), language skills (73%), or even salary (50%), the importance of the diploma is significant, especially for schools wishing to protect their "brand." A young company, CVTrust, has positioned itself in this area by offering the certification of diplomas and other academic documents in digital format. HEC and Sciences Po have already adopted this tool, making it possible to integrate their digital diploma into their profile on professional social networks.
Julie-Anne De Queiroz.
Lefigaro.fr
Posted online September 29, 2014.
