Resumes, Fact or Fiction? – Six Guidelines to Follow When Analyzing Resumes
What differentiates one out of every ten resumes from the rest? The truth. Alarmingly, more applicants are stretching the truth or even blatantly misrepresenting their experience and education.
Common embellishments include contrived degrees, falsified job titles, and inaccurate chronology of employment dates to mask periods of unemployment.
The Internet is used by individuals to supply falsified documentation such as forged, embossed diplomas. Phony degrees are typically easy to expose; however, the facts that individuals supply are more difficult to verify. Companies supplied as references usually only divulge dates of employment and refuse to supply details of employment.
How can you as an employer identify which applicant's resumes are accurate reflections of their experience and education? Below are some guidelines to expose those candidates who are falsely representing themselves:
- Do not accept resumes that do not have a dated chronological format.
Read the dates carefully and make an inquiry into any lapse of time that is not accounted for.
- Are there degrees listed?
If no graduation date is listed, be sure to verify when the course study was begun and the expected date of graduation.
- Does the candidate list seemingly inflated titles for their age or experience?
Be skeptical of any resume that contains elements of grandeur.
- Closely compare knowledge to actual technical ability.
An individual may have acquired knowledge by taking a course or reading a book, however have they actually applied this knowledge with hands on experience?
- Chronological versus Functional Resumes.
Chronologically formatted resumes give a very concise representation of a candidate's experience, documenting experience and titles in order of employment. Beware of Functional Resumes that list skill sets over an entire career without any indication of the relationship between job titles, dates of employment, and the corresponding skills acquired.
- In-depth interviews are an absolute necessity in verifying the accuracy of a resume.
Make an investment in your organization and verify a candidate's qualifications by conducting a thorough interview.