Background checks are now the norm to beginning every new job. We have to make ourselves sound better than the competition. People think that if they make themselves sound appealing to an employer, the employer won’t find out that they’re lying.
According to Forbes, at least 40 percent of people lie on their resumes. To combat this, HR people put much more time in the quality of their background checks. As someone looking for a job, I would definitely want to show off my skills and talents more than the other guy. But is it the truth?
If I were an employer, seeing this great person on a piece of paper doesn’t exactly sell me. I need to know they are as upstanding as he or she lets on. According to AMO, A Matter of Fact, “39 percent of all Background Checks had at least one serious flag”.
Once a lie is out there, how long can one keep it going? Whether you are caught or not, it’s difficult to keep stories straight. It’s much easier to tell your real life story.
It has become increasingly easy for employers to conduct efficient background checks. There is much more technology available, ranging from Web sites and personal pages to computer software.
So what is an interviewers’ incentive to lie? Fear and desperation for a job.
Having a college diploma means a better livelihood. It is near impossible to get a decent paying job without that piece of paper. As a result, people are ashamed and embarrassed to have not gotten to that level.
Other common resume embellishments are: salaries, job responsibilities, GPA and other accomplishments. The list goes on and on.
10 Insider Secrets to a Winning Job Search, by Todd Bermont, is a god resource to use when finding a job and putting together a resume. It helps you show off your assets without lying. This way your background check can come back clean, and the job is all yours.
Tags: Background Check