Top 5 Signs of Fraudulent Resumes for Human Resources

A stunning 75 percent of hiring managers report that they have uncovered fraudulent resumes and caught job applicants lying on their resumes, according to a recent CNBC article. While it’s natural for applicants to want to show themselves in the best possible light, in a competitive market, job seekers may be tempted to take this beyond slight embellishment to outright fabrication. Businesses and hiring managers must be highly vigilant about such possible transgressions on applications and resumes.

The following are five of the most telling signs of fraudulent resumes:

1. Employment and Job Skill Set Anomalies

Information related to work history, skills and training has been cited as the area most likely to be fabricated by dishonest job seekers. Hiring managers should carefully scrutinize this area for gaps and listings that seem suspect. If the applicant can’t back up their claim, it could be a lie. The only way to know for sure is by following up with the employer and conducting and employment verification or educational institution and conducting an education verification. Calling references and using employment screening can also help to verify that the applicant has a track record of honesty.

2. Dates That Don’t Make Sense

Lying about employment and dates related to schooling is common in fraudulent resumes. Applicants who use this technique are usually striving to hide gaps in their work history. They may also be fabricating educational history such as classes taken, schools attended and degrees earned. Following up with each employer and educational institution listed is the only way to know for certain if the applicant is being honest in these areas. Dates that overlap or contradict one another are a definite red flag on a resume.

3. Typos and Grammatical Errors

Making an excellent first impression is key on a resume. Even persons who were not English majors are aware of the importance of triple-proofreading their resume or having it edited by a professional writer. If a resume is riddled with errors, this is a sign that at the very least the resume writer created it carelessly. However, it might also mean that portions of it were fabricated or embellished.

4. Glaring Omissions / Ignoring Instructions

The failure to follow employer directions and requirements on a resume is another red flag. While some applicants have a general resume that they use when applying for every job, they should be conscientious enough to tailor it to each employer’s specifications. Large gaps deliberately left in the resume in any area are also definite red flags. Failing to include a cover letter is another possible sign that the applicant is not qualified for the job and trying to hide it by omission.

5. Strange Wording or Lack of Specificity

The employer or HR manager should use their intuition to look for fraud when reading resumes. There are some areas of fraudulent resumes that can be hard to pinpoint or categorize; however, if a job description seems suspiciously devoid of detail, strangely worded or otherwise unconvincing, it’s possible that this section of the resume was fabricated.

Effective hiring is crucial to workplace morale and business success. Hiring managers should perform an employment verification and screen all resumes for these five signs of fraudulent resumes. Using professional employment screening can also assist in identifying candidates with a criminal history or other issues that could impact their viability.

 Disclaimer Statement: All information presented is for information purposes only and is not intended to provide professional or legal advice regarding actions to take in any situation.