Recent studies show that a weakened economy and sluggish job market often tempt candidates to stretch the truth on their résumés.
Accu-Screen, an employment background screening firm in Tampa, Fla., says false résumé information has spiked in the past 14 years during economic downturns. In fact, the company's data shows that 43 percent of all résumés and job applications contain false information.
Similarly, a recent survey by J.J. Keller & Associates Inc., a risk and regulatory management solutions firm in Neenah, Wisconsin, found that 55 percent of 161 HR professionals discovered outright lies on résumés or applications while performing background or reference checks.
And over the past year, employeescreenIQ, a Cleveland-based employment screening company, has noted a 56 percent discrepancy rate between résumés and information gathered during employment and education verifications.
Based on the Accu-Screen findings, candidates most often lie about employment dates, job titles, criminal records, salary levels, education and degrees, and professional licenses.
While background checks are always important, officials say they are particularly important during tough economic times when candidates are more likely to lie about their qualifications.
Source: Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
Written by Jenny Cromie, certified human resources specialist (CHRS)
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