Spotting Fake Resumes: You May Be Missing More Than You Think

Whether you think you are a pro at spotting lies on a resumé or you take every statement from a candidate at face value, it is becoming ever more difficult to detect the tricks used to embellish or falsify a resumé. To some extent, this is a result of the rise in websites (such as CareerExcuse.com and FakeResume.com) that make it simpler and quicker for job seekers to manipulate information on their resumés to present an image that may be very far from the truth.

In fact, recent studies indicate that well over one-third of job applicants and employees have used or are using embellished resumés at some point (typically involving past job responsibilities), while about 20 percent have lied about their skill sets. Other common lies involved fudged information about start and end dates of employment, academic degrees, previous employers, and job titles.

As a means for keeping candidates’ claims legitimate, try using the following tips as you evaluate resumés in the future:

1. Perform a standard background check on things like work history, residences, dates of employment, and other relevant data. Look for discrepancies between what the candidate submitted and what the reports reveal.
2. Check for red flags such as unexplained gaps in employment, a reluctance to explain the reason for leaving a job, and unusual periods of self-employment. Always check references, though even references can be fake, so check up on previous employers (e.g. via the Web) and use the phone numbers found online for employment verification.
3. Utilize social networking sites. Social networking profiles contain public information that may help you verify certain information, such as a candidate’s work history or education credentials. However, you should be aware of the possible legal ramifications of using social media to screen applicants. As a measure of caution, do not ask candidates for the passwords to their social media accounts.
4. Test their skills. Knowing that employers use keyword searching to find and qualify resumés, applicants may include keywords for all skills required for the job, whether or not they have them. Find out if they’re embellishing by asking specific technical questions about the skills they claim to have, and test their computer skills.
5. Be fair. Remember that mistakes and misunderstandings do happen. If you find a discrepancy, give the candidate an opportunity to explain.
6. Use common sense. Trust your intuition and experience. If something doesn’t seem right, follow up on it.

Some may ask what is so wrong with a little white lie, and others may even wish to defend job seekers who embellish resumé if their experience and performance turn out to be adequate. If this is the case, it comes down to personal preference. Do you feel good about the candidate? Was the lie or embellishment so egregious as to make you reconsider hiring? This goes back to tip No. 6: if your gut tells you a candidate is worth your time, regardless of what is on a resumé, go with your instincts. Very little in life or hiring is strictly black and white.