Is a Yahoo Resume Scandal in Your Future? 10 Ways Employers Can Catch Resume Lies
The press is STILL writing about the ouster of Yahoo’s former CEO Scott Thomson due to an “error” on his resume (here’s a recap from CNN). And the effects of his departure still reverberate through the company and in the world of high-tech as the company seeks his replacement. As late as Friday, in fact, online video site Hulu said its CEO, Jason Kilar, “has declined to be considered for the position of chief executive officer at Internet giant Yahoo Inc. (YHOO),” according to this item on NASDAQ.
So what does all of this mean to us in the workforce as unemployment continues to hover at around 8.2 percent, according to Friday’s latest reports (here’s USA Today’s analysis)?
The answer: Don’t be tempted to stretch the truth on your resume! You will be outed.
Sure, everyone expects a certain amount of “puff” on a resume, but you must be careful that the puff is not a falsehood. In Yahoo’s case, the CEO had a college degree, but not in the area he specified on his resume.
In today’s world, many of us have a number of resumes that we send to employers and we have many online profiles. Once you put something online, you can’t take it back. So a little white lie on one, can haunt you for the rest of your career. An employer has many ways to check on a candidate’s background and they do. Here are some of the ways:
1. Employment Application: This signed release grants the employer the right to access educational, credit, medical, worker’s compensation, police, criminal and court records.
2. Education: Verifying education is very easy. All an employer has to do is call the school, give your name and social security number. The school will confirm degree and dates.
3. Social Security Check: This will show an employer your work history and your criminal history as well. If you changed employment dates on your resume, the correct dates will show up with this check.
4. Address Check: Apartment managers will verify that you live at a certain address. If you own, county records will confirm this.
5. Driving Record: If you be driving a vehicle for work, this check will reveal traffic violations, DUI’s, suspensions or revocations.
6. Licenses or Certifications: These can be checked with the appropriate licensing/certification agency.
7. Military Record: Military service during the past 3 years, can be checked with a commanding officer. A form, DD-214, will provide the period of military service and type of discharge given.
8. National Public Record Search: This search will show both statewide and national criminal records.
9. Credit Report: This report shows account and payment history, credit activity, debt load, evictions, collections, judgments and bankruptcies.
10. Worker’s Compensation: These records show the date and type of injury, time lost from work and disposition of the case.
And there are many other types of check an employer can do when you sign that employment application depending on the position. Why take the chance?
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