Best of HRRecruiting: 9 signs a candidate is lying
May 25, 2009 by StaffPosted in: In this week's e-newsletter
Though most candidates give honest interviews, there are always a few who invent or exaggerate achievements, skills, previous jobs, etc. Here’s how you and your managers can tell when someone’s lying.
There are several non-verbal signals people typically display when they’re telling a lie. These are some of the most common ones you and your managers should watch for during interviews, according to Wayne D. Ford, author of How to Spot a Liar in a Job Interview:
- Touching the face — for example, scratching the nose or covering the lips or chin
- Avoiding eye contact, (or, in some cases, looking the listener directly into the eyes for a long time because they’re trying to control eye movement, knowing it’s a giveaway)
- Sitting farther away from the interviewer than the interviewer intended
- Using a tone of voice that’s inconsistent with body language
- Putting a briefcase or other object in the lap
- Playing with objects (e.g., a pen or coffee mug) or placing them between themselves and the interviewer
- Using the exact words of the question when formulating an answer
- Looking down before or while answering a question
- Using only the mouth when making facial expressions — for example, a natural smile will utilize muscles in the entire face, whereas a liar will only make select movements.
Of course, spotting a liar isn’t an exact science. A perfectly honest person could display any of those signs for a number of reasons — for example, the interviewee may just be nervous.
But they could give you or a manager an indication that more probing questions need to be asked, or tell you what you’ll want to ask about when you check references.
June 26th, 2009 at 10:53 am
I disagree with #6, I’ve played with my pen at interviews before and it’s out of sheer nervousness!
June 26th, 2009 at 11:42 am
I’m sorry, but I don’t buy it. This kind of thinking is spreading far and wide. They have even started using official BDOs (Behavior Detection Officers) in airports that use this method to detect people who could be of potential harm. By law they can be pulled out of line and fined $1500. I think it’s taking this a bit too far.
June 29th, 2009 at 8:18 am
I disagree with many of these points, particularly since many may be cultural. For example, direct eye contact in many cultures is not as acceptable as it is for Americans. Also, many people from different countries often answer questions by restating the question,or, may look away while answering the question. I think we have to be extremely sensitive to cultural issues related to these points because it may cause one to defer a good candidate with cultural differences while hiring another person who is a great liar.
June 29th, 2009 at 8:20 am
I disagree with many of these points, particularly since many may be cultural. For example, direct eye contact in many cultures is not as acceptable as it is for Americans. Also, many people from different countries often answer questions by restating the question,or, may look away while answering the question. I think we have to be extremely sensitive to cultural issues related to these points because it may cause one to defer a good candidate with cultural differences while hiring another person who is a great liar.
June 29th, 2009 at 8:28 am
I disagree with many of these points, particularly since many may be related to an applicants’ cultural. For example, direct eye contact in many cultures is not as acceptable as it is for Americans. Also, many people from different countries often answer questions by restating the question, or, may look away while answering the question in order to pronounce their words correctly. I think we have to be extremely sensitive to cultural issues related to these points because it may cause one to defer a good candidate with cultural differences while hiring another person who is a great liar.
June 29th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
There is nothing to “buy” or disagree with. These points are factual. Ignore them if you want but most people do display one or more of them when they are being untruthful. They are just guidelines though. As the author of the article stated:”Of course, spotting a liar isn’t an exact science. A perfectly honest person could display any of those signs for a number of reasons — for example, the interviewee may just be nervous.”
July 2nd, 2009 at 5:00 pm
All of those are indications that the person is nervous. This article goes ahead and assumes they are nervous because they are lying. But, it seems to me that they might just be nervous because they are in a job interview!
And, I know people that display some of those characteristics fairly often. It’s just a habit and doesn’t mean they are lying.
February 10th, 2010 at 10:36 am
If a jobless person reads all the how to, what not to do and what to say articles on the interview process, they would arrive at the interview wearing hand restraints, sunglasses and an interpreter along with a large sign with a disclaimer. The disclaimer reads: I’ve studied all the internet articles about the interview behaviors and I am deaf, dumb and blind. My interpreter will relay my answers to you. I also have a nervous twitch, considered as a disability under the American Disabilities Act and does not impact my performance in the workplace (only occurs during interviews).
Might as well have the interviewees sit before a judge and jury if the interview atmosphere is treated like criminal court.