88% of applicants lie on their resume – often around their education

HireRight’s 2017 Annual Benchmark Report, 88% of recruiters surveyed found a lie or misrepresentation on resumes and/or job applications. Education was a popular area for applicants to deceive potential employers. John Challenger, chief executive of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, a Chicago-based outplacement firm, says that not having a diploma is one of the things many applicants are most ashamed about. Recent college grads may raise their grade point averages (GPA) or claim honors they didn’t receive, says Todd Bermont, author of 10 Insider Secrets to a Winning Job Search. While education is critical information to review on a resume, it’s not always easy. Many educational institutions do not respond directly to requests for information, while others have restrictions on what information can be shared. Records may not be well-organized or easily accessible. Even if you can access records, it can be tricky to verify the credibility of the institution. Diploma mills are commonplace. So before you get started, here are a few things to keep in mind: Know the laws Before performing education background checks, make sure you thoroughly understand the national and state-level laws around it. There is a thin line sometimes between what’s legal and what’s not with screening, so be aware. Get the originals Verify degrees and attendance by requesting the original transcripts. Ask the candidate to sign a release form directing the college to send the transcript directly to your company, and consider mailing the release form to the college yourself to reduce the chances of a fraud. In the case of licenses, verify with the issuing authority directly. Be consistent Treat all candidates equally by asking the same set of questions. Such consistency will not only protect you from possible employment discrimination lawsuits, but can also help you to better evaluate candidates’ skills. Hire a professional Never rely solely on the Internet for your education background checks as the available information may not be complete or authentic. You may have to take a legal route to obtain transcripts and other originals to run a thorough verification. These, along with the potential legal ramifications of performing such checks incorrectly, often mean it’s best to hire professionals who can handle it all for you. If you’re interested in education background checks, but unsure how to proceed, contact us today.]]>