Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire

Just how often do job seekers embellish their experience, their education, or their credentials? Sadly, more often than you might think. And more often now that the labor market is so competitive.

How do you know if a candidate is lying? Easy - check it out. It is common for employers to stop checking references, because most of the time we are not able to verify anything but dates of employment and title. But I would encourage you to try again, this time with some smarter techniques.

First, ask the candidate for personal references of YOUR choosing. "Barb, who can I talk to at XYZ company that could tell me more about your involvement with the ABC project?" Then call that person. Ask for at least one reference in each critical project they have been a part of. Sometimes these people are not the "typical" references, but can often provide the most meaningful information.

It is true that the list of references on a candidates resume are going to tell you good things about that person. You, as the hiring manager, don't want to hear good things - you want to hear true things. So, ask questions of that reference that would allow you to assess specific competencies. For example, you need someone who works well within teams, so when you call their reference you'll ask, "Tell me how David worked within a team at your organization. What role did he play? How effective was he at getting things done through teamwork? How was he viewed by his fellow teammates?" This will help you avoid a generic statement like, "David is a real team player" and afford you an opportunity to think critically about David's ability to work in your team environment.

Lastly, and probably most importantly - do check the facts. For each qualified candidate, be sure that you contact at least 2 professional references, call the educational institutions to verify degrees earned, and run a simple background check for criminal convictions. The time you spend on proper due diligence now will save you the headache of a poor employee later.

Happy hiring,
Ericka Heid
www.h-r-now.com