Some would say that it is acceptable to stretch the truth on a resume to hide events such as gaps in employment, a job stint that resulted in getting fired, or a degree that does not exist. Resume falsifications can be any of these things and more. With statistics showing that over 90% of college students say they would lie on a resume to get the job they want, it’s becoming more important than ever to verify information on a job seeker’s application. For positions such as executives, it is almost negligence on an employer’s part to not do the proper research before hiring them. At AccuScreen, alert you of inconsistencies and we’ll provide the information to you in easy-to-read reports that are accurate and thorough.

Recent events such as the fall of Enron, mortgage companies approving applicants with poor credit, and irresponsible advice on investments have brought a bigger need for being more scrupulous prior to accepting a person’s claims. Major indiscretions have been uncovered in recent years such as accepting kickbacks, inflating earnings, and not having earned an MBA. For soon-to-be executives of publicly owned companies, not only does a prospective company need to know that their next CEO is on the up-and-up…the investing public needs to know! According to Slate magazine online, “executives who fudge their resumes may be more likely than other bosses to play games with their numbers”. This is likely not the type of person you want at the helm.

Why do so many people embellish their accomplishments? Our society may actually be feeding into this temptation to lie. Our nation’s printed, radio, and television media reports mainly on the uber-successful and, as a result, this nation treats these individuals as idols; a vision of what to strive for. With the media constantly reporting on where so-and-so was seen, what they have and what they were wearing, having a large paycheck now equates to being a “star”. When you combine this emphasis on money with basic human nature, sometimes a monster is created. But in the executive world, resume falsifications are something to think twice about.

Let’s take a look at a real-life example that admittedly got out of hand. The New York Times reported in April of 2002 that Fox News Channel had discovered its senior Afghanistan reporter was not who he claimed to be. He had purported to be a Special Forces Lieutenant Colonel, had won the Silver Star for valor in the Vietnam War, and had been part of the now-famous failed attempt to rescue hostages in 1980 from Iran. It is hard to believe that he was able to fool people for as long as he did, but after four months with the news media giant he was found out. He had never reached any of the military ranks he had claimed and had, in fact, only served 44 days in boot camp and been honorably discharged as a Private First Class. This reporter had used his stories of battlefield glories to make professional connections, get hired for jobs, and rise through the ranks to Senior Reporter at Fox News.
So here’s the question: Is it really lying when someone pads their resume a little here and there? The answer is an emphatic “Yes!” As a hiring professional, you need to be sure that your potential employees are qualified to do the job to avoid major repercussions. Whether an applicant could potentially be driving children to and from the hospital, divulging profit and loss information to NASDAQ, or reporting on the War on Terrorism, it is vital that due diligence be done on someone’s background. At AccuScreen we find the truth, the lies, and everything in between.