DK Cole's HR & Recruiting Tip of the Month

Bait and switch is an old, unethical advertising practice where retailers "lured" consumers with an ad for one item, and switched it to an inferior version when consumers purchased it. Resumes, like advertising, can be embellished or falsified by candidates. In fact, research shows 53% of resumes and 34% of job applications contain false information! The good news is, you can uncover the facts by consistently incorporating the following steps in your hiring process:

Who, What, Where, When

Watch for candidates who gloss over details. Dig further with questions about what they did, how, when, and for whom they did it. If someone says "we turned the project around," ask for specifics on their personal contribution. Listen for names and details to verify with references. And don’t forget to check for discrepancies between resumes and LinkedIn profiles.

Reasons for Leaving

You shouldn’t necessarily accept a candidate’s reason for leaving at face value. If someone says they left for a better opportunity, ask "What made it better?" Also, understanding changes that occurred at their employer, before they left, may also uncover motivating factors. If they’re hiding something, answers may be vague.

Background Checks, Employment & Degree Verification

Inaccurate employment history and falsifying degrees and certifications are the most common infractions, but the easiest to uncover. Many questionable candidates bet you won’t check, but will decline early, if you explain your process up front. You can easily outsource criminal background checks and employment verification to a screening company, but certifications such as LEED and CPA are easier to verify directly with the certification authority.

Reference Checks

Always check references... even on referred candidates. Ask questions like, "Is it true Jason saved the hospital project?" Ask about their people skills, how they resolve conflict, and finally asking, "is there anything else I should know about Jason?" can be telling. I once learned the candidate stole from his previous employer with this question!

Following these steps will help ensure hiring success, but be sure to follow appropriate employment laws when incorporating them.

For questions about this article, call Kathy Cole, at 630-282-7747 or kcole@dkcole.com.