Resume fraud is a big problem, and it can cost you jobs and even your career, but it’s also easy to avoid.
If you know what to search for in a resume, an applicant with fake credentials can’t get hired by you.
If you don’t know how to spot resume inaccuracies or fraud, this article will teach you how.
Article Road Map
Is It Possible To Spot Resume Inaccuracies Or Fraud?
Yes, it is possible to spot resume inaccuracies or fraud. Below are ways to do so:
1. Identify The Applicant
The first step in spotting resume inaccuracy or fraud is to identify the type of applicant you are looking at.
Once you do this, any inaccuracies will become obvious and easy to spot.
You must assess whether or not the applicant has been dishonest with their application form.
This can be done by comparing their answers with those of other candidates who applied for similar positions in your company.
If there are discrepancies between what they wrote on paper/in person and what they said during interviews, then there’s a good chance their CV contains some degree of misrepresentation.
2. Conduct A Formal Background Check
A formal background check can include a criminal history, credit check, driving history, employment history, and personal references.
If you are using a resume writer or hiring a resume service to create your resume for you (or both), they must conduct the appropriate background checks before they start working on your document.
3. Question The Applicant About Their Previous Employment In Detail.
If you are hiring for a position that requires an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree, ask the applicant to explain how they plan on pursuing a career in your field.
You need to know where the person has worked in the past and what they have done during their tenure with that company.
You need to know how long they’ve been at their current position if there are any gaps in employment history, and exactly what responsibilities they had at each place of work.
Suppose a candidate has never worked elsewhere before applying for your job opening. This can indicate that something may be off about them, not just because some companies prefer new blood.
Ask about their experience with relevant software. If a candidate has worked with Microsoft Excel but states that they have no PowerPoint experience, it may be worth asking them why they feel this way.
Ask about any specific skills required for the job description and what types of projects/tasks were involved in those experiences.
This will help give you insight into whether or not the candidate possesses certain traits that could make him/her an excellent addition to your team.
Read Also: 5 Networking Mistakes Job Seekers Make
4. Contact Previous Employers.
Contact previous employers and ask the applicant to provide contact information for previous employers, references, and accomplishments.
You can ask them to list any skills they have developed during their career that you can use on your resume or in an interview set-up.
For example, if you’re looking for a marketing manager.
5. No Qualifications Are Listed For The Position
If you’re asked to provide a resume, but the qualifications listed do not match what is required of the position, that’s a red flag.
If you’re applying for a job at 7-Eleven and have been there since age 14, your resume should include any education and experience relevant to that particular store, not just any old thing.
6. Use Skills Testing
To verify the accuracy of a resume, use a sample test that requires applicants to demonstrate their skills by answering questions about them.
This is an excellent way to weed out applicants who are not suitable for the job.
If you can’t access such a test, consider using another simple method.
You can read through each applicant’s resume and ask yourself whether he or she appears qualified based on what is written there.
7. You Don’t Know How to Find References for the Position
One of the most vital things to do when writing a resume is to check references.
If you can’t find references on a resume, the resume is likely a fraud
You can find out whether or not they’re willing to be used as references by asking them directly.
Applicants are advised to ensure they have a list of all potential references.
There’s nothing worse than having wasted time and effort trying to reach someone who didn’t want any part of being called back.
8. The Resume Appears Customized For The Job Seeker
If you’re looking at a resume that appears to be customized for the job seeker, there are likely some red flags.
For example, suppose you see that the candidate has no spelling or grammar mistakes in their resume and too many grammatical errors.
In that case, this could be an indication of fraudulent practices.
It’s important to note that even if someone has minor formatting inconsistencies, this doesn’t necessarily mean they are lying about their experience level or educational background.
However, if these inconsistencies persist over time, it could indicate something deeper behind closed doors, perhaps even fraud.
In addition to checking out these inconsistencies in detail when reviewing candidate resumes online or offline through mailing lists, ensure there aren’t any typos.
9. Wrong Phone Number Or Email Address
The phone number and email address on your resume should match the information you have listed in your social media accounts if you have any.
If there is a discrepancy, it could indicate that the person is not who they say they are.
10. The Resume Looks Like It Has Been Placed Between Pages In A Book
If you see whiteout or stitching marks on your resume, it’s a sign that someone has taken your resume and placed it between pages in a book.
This is an attempt to save money by not printing several copies of the same document.
While this may look like a good idea at first glance, it could indicate other issues with this person’s CV.
If they were looking for job opportunities online or through word-of-mouth recommendations before applying, they would have been more likely to spend their time writing something original.
11. Check Social Media For Consistency
Social media can be a great resource to get a feel for an applicant’s personality, and it’s also a good way to check for discrepancies in their resume and other materials.
Search for their name, then check out their social media accounts if they have one.
You’ll want to ensure you’re looking at the right person. A fake account won’t tell you anything about them.
12. A Gimmick Resume
You may have come across a gimmick resume if:
- You’ve ever seen a resume that seems like someone with no experience wrote it?
- Employers have rejected your resume because of the way it looks and sounds.
A gimmick resume is one designed solely to get an interview.
It may be full of buzzwords and fancy language that tells the reader how great they are at what they do while hiding their actual skill set behind them (like “I’m an experienced PHP developer”).
A good example of this would be something like this: I am an experienced PHP developer who can help businesses adapt their websites for mobile devices.
This might seem like an impressive claim, but what does it mean? Does this person actually know how to code in PHP? If so, why not say so instead of using vague terms like “expert.”
13. Verify Education With Institutions Directly.
When you’re checking an applicant’s education, you should check with the school directly.
This will allow you to verify that the correct information is being provided and also help ensure that any discrepancies are not due to fraud or error by your recruiting department.
In addition to contacting institutions directly, it’s also important to contact their registrars (or registrars’ offices), admissions offices, and alumni associations at each institution.
These sources can provide valuable insight into the following:
- How well-qualified applicants typically perform on campus.
- What kinds of activities do they participate in while attending school there, and have they been involved with any organizations or clubs there?
Suppose a student has been active in any extracurricular activities at school, such as athletics teams or performing arts groups.
In that case, this information should be included on their resume.
This will let the recruiters can quickly determine if they would be a suitable fit for any open positions within your company.
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FAQs
1. How Do I Verify My Resume Information?
A resume background check is an important part of the resume verification process. You can verify whether an experience is genuine or not by contacting the HR of that organization.
2. Can Resumes Be Fake?
The idea of fake job experience is bad, and we ‘should’ always avoid it.
3. What Percentage Of Resumes Are Said To Contain Inaccurate Information?
About 40% of people lie on their resumes, and 75% of employers have caught a lie on someone’s resume.
4. How Will You Make Sure Your Resume Is Accurate And Error-Free?
Read your resume backward – it might sound odd, but this is a proven way to pick up errors.
5. How Do Employers Verify Resumes?
The employer will usually ask you to provide one reference for each previous employment and will contact those references.
6. How Can You Tell A Fake Resume?
When screening candidate resumes, ensure that all important candidate details such as name, permanent address, telephone number, and email address are included. Fake candidates are likely to provide limited if any, contact information.
7. What Can A Scammer Do With My Resume?
With this information, scammers can set up bank accounts in my name and potentially access my accounts.
8. What Happens If You Fake A Resume?
Once it is discovered that an employee has lied on his resume, the employer has the right to terminate the employment contract.
9. Is It Possible That Resumes Contain Inaccurate Information?
Yes, it is possible.
10. What Makes A Resume Ineffective?
Rather than listing your tasks or discussing your company’s accomplishments, discuss how you use your skills to create measurable results for your employer.
Conclusion
When hiring for a position, it’s important to ensure that the person you’re considering isn’t lying about their qualifications.
Inaccuracies in a resume can be an easy way for fraudsters to get hired and then steal from your company, so it’s critical to know how to spot these problems before you or your employees become victims.
With this guide and some practice, you can spot resume inaccuracies or fraud.
You can choose to drop your questions in the comment box.