Sunday, February 22, 2015

The High Cost of Resume Lies

Do you know what Resume Lies actually cost Employers?
Anyone who has ever read our blog knows the importance we place on resume verificationWe believe it is always in your best interest to hire with eyes wide open, and we have shared tips that will help you accomplish this.  
  
We have also suggested that if looking for a job, you would do well to make sure your resume is “background check ready”. This not only puts you in a good light with a future employer, but makes the entire process much easier. You can find tips to help you do this here.

The simple truth is, people do lie on their resumes. And the goal of any good background check is to uncover those lies and allow you to go into the hiring process as informed as possible.

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Resume Lies Cost Small Business Big Money!  "Tweet This"!

But while we have mentioned the financial strain that results from making a bad hire before, especially on a small business, this number really opened our eyes!

It is estimated that resume fraud costs employers approximately $600 billion annually. (The Greater Lansing Business Monthly)

Yes that is $600 BILLION!  
This figure covers the increased time needed to screen resumes to verify applicant’s claims.

There is also the high cost associated with hiring, training, and replacing employees that are later found out to lack the skills or education necessary to do the job.

It is estimated that this can cost more than that employee’s yearly salary. And this can hit small businesses especially hard. Many struggle to cover the time and money wasted.  

With 53% of resumes and applications containing lies of some kind, it is clear that the cost of resume lies comes high!

In addition to the money and time spent on screening, fabricated resumes can also present very real and serious legal issues to employers. If your company hires someone who is not fit for the job, whether that is because they are unqualified or unsafe, it opens you up to negligent hiring lawsuits.

It becomes even more serious if someone is harmed due to that hire - whether that is another employee or a customer.

While it is possible that you may be able to sue the person who lied, that is not always a slam dunk.  You have to prove that their lie harmed your business and that there was no way you could have known they lied before you hired them.

Your best defense is a good offense! You need to do all you can to verify resume claims before you make the hire.

These 3 Tips Will Help:
  • Early in the Hiring Process: Take note of any possible “red flags” in an applicant’s resume. Spend the time needed to verify these before you interview, and even question the applicant if you need more clarity. Be sure to verify all academic degrees or skills claimed by the applicant.
  • After Making a Conditional Offer of Employment: Do a thorough Background Check. Verify anything left hanging from your initial screening, along with a criminal record check.  It is also important that you make the applicant aware (in writing) that resume fraud is grounds for withdrawing any job offer and for firing even after you hire.
  • After Hiring: Be Ready to fire an existing employee for resume fraud. If you uncover that your employee lied, you need to consider the following; if their lie results in them no longer being qualified for their position, if their lie effects your ability to trust them, and if you consider their lie a breach of honesty.
Small businesses need to protect their integrity and their brand. It takes time to build trust in the products and services you provide. But very little time to lose it.

Hiring anyone who has shown a penchant for lying, does not bode well. Lying to get the job may just be the beginning. Will you be able to trust that they are not lying to your customers, their fellow employees, or you in the future?

It is in your best interest to make your position on honesty completely clearIt speaks to your business ethics and is a great foundation for how you expect your company to operate ~ beginning with you and continuing on to your employees.
Hiring an employee that is dishonest is a costly mistake, especially for Small Businesses. You and your company deserve more!

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Sunday, February 15, 2015

Fighting Gender Bias ~ Why We Need Anonymous Resumes


Did you know that by merely listing a "feminine" name on a resume or application, a woman can be overlooked for a job?

While we have written before on women in business issues; “Women in Business ~ My Case for Why We Need to Help Ourselves” and “The Ability to Choose ~ A Legacy We Leave to Our Daughters” .... This time it is Different.

In, “Case Closed: Women Do Make Teams Smarter”, author Geoffrey James delves into the subject of women in high-tech companies. James calls these high-tech jobs a male dominated field with, at times, an openly hostile treatment of women applicants and employees.

While this was not much of surprise, it is the following quote from the article that really widened our eyes;

“It turns out that gender bias starts in the selection of candidates to be interviewed. Several studies have shown that a resume bearing a man's name results in more job interviews than the identical resume bearing a woman's name.”

We were incredulous. Could it really be that simply seeing a woman’s name on a resume can result in them being overlooked and ignored for the job ~ even when they are equally, or even more, qualified than a male candidate?

That is simply ridiculous! Women are good at their jobs. They come to the table with all the education, skills, and abilities to excel. And employers in all sectors would do well to realize this.  

According to a report by Rochelle Sharpe in Bloomberg Business Week, “As Leaders, Women Rule”,  “female managers' strengths have long been undervalued, and their contributions in the workplace have gone largely unnoticed and unrewarded. Companies are now saying they want the skills women typically bring to the job, but such rhetoric doesn't always translate into reality”.

Employers, managers, and supervisors often pass over women for promotions due to their bias, either conscious or unconscious, about their abilities. Their belief is that traditional “female” traits makes them less qualified and clouds their judgment.   

We would all like to believe that we have evolved beyond this way of thinking, but clearly that is not the case.

The bottom line is this ~ we need to start at the beginning. We need to fight bias during the hiring process.
This is where we found Geoffrey James’ article most fascinating. In it he proposes an interesting solution ~ removing names from all resumes!

James advocates stripping “candidates' names from their resumes before you select which candidates to interview”. He even goes as far as suggesting that the selection process be followed by remote interviews; “with the candidate represented as a neutral-gender avatar mirroring the candidate's facial expressions. Morph the candidate's voice so that it's gender neutral”.

James believes that this will result in a more even playing field. While he is specifically addressing the world of high-tech, we think this could cross over to any field.  

This idea may only get women in the door, but it is a start. As the climate changes and more and more women are given the chance, we can all accomplish great things and create a better world for all...one step at a time.

As B.R. Ambedkar, an Indian jurist and social reformer, states; 

Now about this “equal pay for equal work” issue......

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Sunday, February 8, 2015

Is Being “Authentic” Always Best?

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According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of “authentic” is:


  • not false or imitation:  real, actual 
  • true to one's own personality, spirit, or character
  • Synonyms include; bona fide, genuine, honest & true.



A lot has been written lately about the importance of being authentic - in person, online, and in your business.  While I am all for projecting “you” into all you do, I think that instead of saying we need to be authentic, we should instead focus on being our Best Selves.


This means putting the very best of what we can offer out there for all to see.  


This goes beyond just showing the “real” you.  It means taking what is good about ourselves and our values and promoting them to the fullest extent.


That does not mean we shouldn’t be honest about our short comings or our failures ~ that is what makes us human.  And sharing these helps bond us with others.  


Face it, we have all floundered.  Failing and making mistakes goes hand in hand with reaching forward and attempting things we have not tried before.  It also means trying better next time and being willing to change what does not make us happy.  Sharing this side of ourselves is good.


But what if your “authentic” self includes bad behavior?  What if it is “in your nature” to be condescending, judgmental, or unkind (even if it is only sometimes)?


Putting our best selves “out there” should mean that any petty, unkind, or derogatory thoughts about others be kept inside.  Often times these are fleeting and temporary (at least hopefully!). Sharing those in person can be hurtful and sharing them online makes them permanent.


Being “authentic” should not include being mean or destructive ~ and I have found a lot of this going on lately, especially online.  


The “trolls” that simply leave comments to stir controversy are the worst.  They hide under the guise of “being themselves” and under the label of  practicing “free speech”.  They are nothing more than online bullies!


This is not being “authentic”.   


What being Authentic should mean is that you are true and honest about YOU.  It should not mean being hurtful towards others and trying to explain it away by saying that you were “just being honest”.  


This is most definitely true when it comes to your business. Reaching out and sharing YOU is the best way to forge great relationships;


“the first companies that make an effort to develop an authentic, transparent, and meaningful social contract with their fans and customers will turn out to be the ones that are the most successful in the future. While brands that refuse to make the effort will lose stature and customer loyalty.”
Simon Mainwaring



When I write my blog, it is always with My Voice.  I share my opinions on topics that I believe will help you and your small business, or even discuss those that I think won’t.



I strive to keep my core values and my “why” squarely in mind. Doing this gives me greater focus and drive.  (You can find out more about this in my article; “I Know Why I do What I do”).



I believe this helps my readers and clients relate to me far better than if I was less honest and forthcoming.


The same goes for any comments I make on the posts of others.  I may disagree with the writer (and expressing that is healthy), but I will always respect their view.  I am not in attack mode.


This quote definitely speaks to me: 

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It promotes understanding, accepting, and, most of all, loving yourself.


But none of us live in a vacuum.  What we say and do effects others.  And we should not forget that under the guise of being ourselves.


For me, the true definition of being “authentic” means to be happy and content with yourself (faults and all) and allowing
others the freedom to feel the same.


When being Authentic means you know and understand yourself - all your strengths, weaknesses, and what makes you unique - then you have won.


But, when it means you feel free to hurt others in the process, then I think it is an Epic Fail!


Authored by  





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I write about issues that effect small business owners.  Look for tips and news that can help you in my blog, accessprofilesblog.com.  Subscribe and you will get one new article every week, and no Spam!

I would also love to connect with you on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest!  

Sunday, February 1, 2015

Do You Think You Know the Right Time to Contact Your Background Check Provider? You Might Want to Think Again!


You are ready to make a new hire for your Small Business. You tell your contacts, place ads ~ all the things you hope will land you the perfect applicant.


You contact a few hopefuls to come in for an interview and find 3 possible candidates.  Before making an offer, you decide it might be wise to run a background check.   


You make a few calls, or check online, and find a company you think will get you the information you need.  


What could be better?


Instead, this is a perfect example of putting the cart before the horse.


My advice?  The best time to contact me is BEFORE you ever need to hire!

Many companies get this backwards.  They realize they need to hire, then scramble to find someone to help them screen their applicants ~ or worse, forgo the background check all together.


Meeting with potential background check companies before hand, and choosing the one best for you, will make your hiring process much smoother and more successful!


A good background check company will help you put in place all the steps you need to follow well in advance.  This may start with the job descriptions for each position within your company (this is something that I have helped clients with in the past), and should also include advising you on your  employment applications.  


They will also make sure your release forms are compliant (or supply you with one of their own), along with giving you copies of employee rights forms, adverse action letters, etc.


Connecting with your background check company early also gives you ample time to ask any questions you may have about the employment screening process.  There should never be any confusion about how and why you are using background checks in your hiring practices.


Going the extra mile to make sure you are completely comfortable with the entire process is the goal of every good screening service ~ and this is especially important to Small Business.


With limited budgets and the settings that often result in close contact among employees and customers, hiring safely is more important than ever. 


Read “4 Reasons Why Small Businesses Need to Use Background Checks” to find out more!


No matter whether you are ready to make your first hire, or your 20th, preparing early  for what you need to do and when makes sense.  


The best way to accomplish this?  Partner with the right background check company first!


After all, going into anything blindly is rarely the best course of action ~ and making your new hire is no exception!


Authored by  



I can help!  I would be happy to answer your questions on the best hiring practices for your small business.  Email me at .  

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I also invite you to check out my blog at accessprofilesblog.com , where you will find all my contact information ~ and why not subscribe while you are there!

I would love to hear from you!