New research says the resumes you see may be more fact than fiction. Here are some things you can do to get a more accurate picture of your applicants.
In a survey taken by Monster last year, 48% of the respondents said they’ve stretched the truth on a resume. Even more interesting, 10% said they’ve told an outright lie.
Theres been some news lately about high-ranking people listing made-up degrees (see former MIT dean of admissions Marilee Jones). Mostly, though, people exaggerate the roles and responsibilities in previous jobs (for example, they say they managed a team, when they really weren’t in charge at all), or tweak titles to make them sound more important.
Cut the fat
So how can you tell fact from fiction? The key is digging for specifics in the interview. Ask people about the accomplishments they list on the resume. Use questions like, What was the biggest challenge? or, How did you make that transition go smoothly?
Also, keep your eyes peeled for inconsistencies when you interview. For example, if a candidate lists a job that required him or her to work well under pressure, ask a stressful or nerve-wracking, like, What makes you think you’re better for this job than any other candidate?
Or, think of a tricky scenario they may come across in the new job and ask how they’d handle it. Then ask if they learned anything in past jobs that could help with that situation. That’ll give you a better idea of the candidates experience and how it relates to the job you’re filling.
