You receive an application for a job opening from what appears to be a glowing candidate. But remember, job seekers have been known to do just about anything to get hired. These people put a great deal of time and energy into falsifying their applications so you think they are doing you a favor by applying for the position. Don’t fall prey to the deceit. Here are the most common areas of deception to watch out for:
Misrepresentation
It is a common practice for dishonest employees to claim a degree when in fact they have none. Some applicants have gone to the extent of producing fraudulent documents to back up their claims. There are even services that create falsified documents for a fee.
Criminal Backgrounds
Failure to report a past criminal conviction is another common omission from the employment application. Criminal information is extremely important for any company or organization. It’s hard to tell from a written application if someone has an abusive nature. Fortunately, domestic violence is a matter of public record. This kind of information typically turns up in the background check when professional investigators are involved.
Credit History
Failure to meet financial obligations is becoming more common. This is an important inquiry and could help expose a person’s poor judgement and/or propensity to steal.
False Dates
Dates of hire and termination are often fabricated in order to hide an indiscretion, such as an unsuccessful or unreported employment. Applicants often believe that there should be no unemployment periods, so they hide them with false employment dates.
Reason For Leaving
It is important to know why an individual leaves a job. Too often, applicants either fabricate or omit actual reason for leaving. The truth can be determined through the supervisory interview.
SOURCE: Cleveland-based Research Associates, Inc.