Sunday, April 24, 2016

Employers Share ~ Lie on Your Resume and You Lose!

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58% of Employers have Uncovered a Lie on a Resume. (Source1)



Does this number surprise you?



And this percentage only reflects the lies that have been found.  It says nothing about the ones that have gone unnoticed.



As landing a job becomes more and more competitive, some job seekers might believe that lying on their resume is worth the risk.



This is a big mistake!  And employers agree!




Resume Lies Will Keep You From Getting Hired!  “Tweet This”



Be assured, employers are checking.  Verifying the information on your resume is common practice and part of most company’s hiring processes.  Investigating your education, past employments, and skills top the list. 



It is time to take note ~ When your resume lies are uncovered during the hiring process, you lose.  And, if discovered later, you could face not only the embarrassment of getting fired, but also the possibility of public humiliation.



It has happened before.  There have been cases where a resume lie resulted in more than just being fired.  It also drew unwanted and, most certainly, negative publicity.  



Check out Part 1 and Part 2 of my series on what happened when these 8 “Famous” people lied on their Resumes!



While it is unlikely that this level of media attention would happen to you, lying on your resume is never a smart move.



Employers are understandably wary.  Making a new hire, or promoting an existing hire, is a big deal.  It costs money and time. And every employee is a reflection back on the company’s image and brand.



No company wants the employer / employer relationship to begin with a lie.  And certain resume lies are more problematic than others.




Resume Lies that will Keep You from Getting Hired:






For Employers, lying about your degree or skills tops the list.  They fear hiring someone who is unable or unsafe to do the job. That is why it is important that at least the basic skills and training you list are truthful.



Lying about where you worked and what title you held is also trouble.  Verifying past employments, and the dates and title of those employments, is one of the easiest parts of a background check. 



There are also other types of lies that raise a red flag for employers. Listing incorrect dates to cover an employment gap.  Omitting a job completely because you were only there for a short time or left under unfavorable circumstances.  Even beefing up your job title to make it sound more important.  



You may categorize these as being “little embellishments” or “close to the truth”, but no matter how you look at them, they are still lies.  



And employers take notice!



Lying on your resume is seen as a mark against your honesty. Employers want to hire someone they can trust. If their first impression of you is one of deception, then your chances of getting hired are slim.



In fact, according to the Careerbuilder survey, 51% of employers would automatically reject a candidate that lied.



That is why raising any red flags by lying on your resume makes no sense.



So What Should You Do?



The Number One Rule ~ Don’t Lie!



Being as accurate as possible from the beginning is your best protection.  Make sure any degree or certifications you list include exact dates earned and institution attended.  All past and present employments should have accurate start and end dates and job titles for any position held.



Just as important are truthful depictions of your accomplishments and skills.  Use strong action words to describe any projects or teams you worked on.  Be sure to list any lessons learned and the results of your actions.



The smartest move you can make is to get your resume “background check ready” before you even apply.  This means being meticulous about what you list and pre-verifying yourself what any past employers or universities will share about you. 



Learn more about what you need should do in “Tips to Help You Get Your Resume ‘Background Check Ready’!”.




Employers don’t hire liars.  By the time a background check is ordered, they have already invested time and money in advertising their open position, wading through resumes received, and interviewing any promising candidates.



Finding out that you lied at this point in the hiring process is maddening.  And despite the aggravation, most are willing to start over before hiring someone they can’t trust.



Don’t let this happen to you!



Remember, your resume is a reflection of you ~ and often your first introduction to your potential new employer.  Make sure that picture is a positive one!


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Need help getting Your Resume Background Check Ready?  Contact Me!  



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Source1:  Liar, Liar You Won’t Get Hired, Career Builder Survey
http://advice.careerbuilder.com/posts/liar-liar-you-wont-get-hired

Sunday, April 17, 2016

Are You Paying it Forward or Just Not Getting Paid? What You Need to Change Now!





Have you found yourself in this situation?


You are working hard to get your name “out there”.  You blog, share information, and create strong social profiles ~ everything aimed at establishing yourself as a “go to” person in your field.



Suddenly you are getting requests for help from others wishing to do what you do.



You are flattered, but how much help is too much?



Over the past year, this has happened to me.



I have been approached by people who, because they have seen my blog, are interested in starting their own background check company or their own small business blog.



They have also seen my numerous articles on Paying it Forward and the benefits of Small Businesses helping each other.



I believe in it all.  This includes mentoring, lending a supportive ear, sharing tips, and, in general, passing on what I have learned.




For me, mentoring is a great way to share my “real world” knowledge.  I enjoy helping others learn the industry ins and outs and pointing them to useful resources.  It is also fulfilling to know I am encouraging talented individuals to achieve their goals .  You can find more of my thoughts on Mentoring in Mentoring, How You can ‘Make a Difference’!”.



Simply put,  I think sharing what I know is an easy way to help. And it gives me the drive to keep learning so I stay on top of things!



I also find ways to use my own Small Business and my blog to “Pay it Forward”.  I actively promote other small businesses and try to introduce new entrepreneurs to my own connections.  Find out more ways I use my business to help others here!






But when does it become more than just lending a helping hand? In other words, 
How much is too much? 



We all know that helping others isn’t always easy.  It can sometimes derail our schedules and cost us time, money, and resources.


To be effective at giving to others, we have to be on our game when it comes to time management.  We must take into account our own commitments and our limitations.  Allowing ourselves to be stretched too thin helps no one.  



Blocking out time to help that works within our schedule is best. Small favors like quick introductions, answering a short question, or pointing someone in the right direction are relatively easy to achieve.



Or maybe we are willing to block out more time to help someone we feel can really use our guidance or is especially deserving of our help.  Then, by all means, we should go for it.



But what if these requests for help turn into something much more demanding?  When does it become a drain on our time and energy?  Or, what do we do when we begin to feel we are being taken advantage of?  



That is when we need to remember to value ourselves, our time, and our knowledge.  It has taken all of us years of research, education, and trial and error to know what we know.  




Simply giving that away on a large scale doesn’t make sense.  We need to learn to protect our investment!



This is not to say that helping someone in the short term or once in a while should be off limits.



But how do we decide that someone has crossed the line?  How can we reconcile our desire to help others succeed with the need to be paid for our time and knowledge?



For me, that line is when someone continues to come back again and again, and never considers that the time I am taking to help them has value.  That is when I need to take a stand. 



My solution?  Meld the two ~ my desire to help and my need to get paid!



How You can Pay it Forward & Still Get Paid! “Tweet This”





3 Steps to Help You Pay it Forward and Still Get Paid What You are Worth:


Recognize that Your Time and Knowledge has Value
Why else would they be trying to learn what you know?!  You have spent countless hours on education, research, and development. That is worth something.



Decide What to Charge For 
Specific guidance and detailed information top my list.  Time consuming or regular on-going conversations also fall in this category. 

This is when having a list of your services and costs comes in handy.  Even if it is simply a cost per hour.  Knowing in advance what you will charge for, and being able to share that up front, makes sense.  This way there will be no surprises.

I still choose to keep in mind their particular circumstances and will offer discount rates to those just starting out or who have been respectful of my time.



Decide What to Give Away for Free
General questions, some quick tips, or just to be there to bounce ideas off of, is free in my book.  This is where I share things like what to consider in setting up their background check business or why they should start a business blog.  

In fact, blogging is my on-going effort to pay it forward and share what I know for free.  I have referred to it often to answer a question or to make a point.  Directing them to a specific article in answer to their question or solve their problem helps us both!

However, when it comes to HOW to do things, then that moves into my pay column!  


Contact Me!


Reconciling my desire to help with my need to be paid is not easy for me.  My initial instinct has been, and probably always will be, to share what I know without thought of money.




But I have begun to understand that this is not fair or wise.





Finding a way to do both makes more sense. 
Do You Agree?




I invite you to share this article and to leave your comments.  
I would love to hear from you!


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Sunday, April 10, 2016

Why You Need to Swing for the Fences ~ Especially When it Comes to Your Small Business

Swing Big in Your Small Business!



A new baseball season has begun.  From school teams all the way up to the majors, many of us are once again caught up in the excitement of watching our favorite teams.



Recently my favorite team, the Pittsburgh Pirates, was playing a pre-season game in Bradenton, FL..  We were down by a run when Andrew McCutchen came up to bat.  With one powerful swing, he sent the first pitch flying towards the center field wall, bringing in 2 runs.  



In the midst of my wild cheering (which my neighbors will surely attest to), I heard one of the announcers say that McCutchen was “swinging for the fences”.  I hadn’t heard that phrase in awhile, but it got me thinking.



There is no doubt ~ We all love the long ball.  



The thrill of having our team up at bat and watching as one of our players really connects.  Seeing the big swing, hearing the ball crack off the bat, and watching it rise until it flies over the fence ~ there is really nothing quite like it.



It is one of the greatest moments in baseball.



And hitting that long ball is also important in your small business.



Swinging for the Fences is Good for Your Small Business!  “Tweet This”




When you are starting or running your own business, there are times when you just have to put your fears aside and go for it



For many of us, that big swing is simply starting our own businesses in the first place.  Being an entrepreneur is risky, especially if we are going it alone.  It is daunting knowing that all the responsibility lies solely on our own shoulders.



I understand.  I felt that way when I started my background check company.  It was definitely nerve wracking and many times I was unsure I was doing the right thing.     



But at the same time, I also enjoyed the thrill of taking a chance and going for it.  As in most things, there is rarely a “perfect” time, so why wait?  I share a lot more about my journey into entrepreneurship in; What I have Learned by Starting my Own Business”! 



I also took a big swing when I started my blog.  Blogging was a very foreign concept, but I didn’t let that stop me.  I just plunged in and started writing ~ and I am so happy I did.



I have gotten so much out of it!  I reached a wider client pool, became more knowledgable about my industry, and developed an increased passion for my work.



You can learn more about my blogging journey here!




If I hadn’t been willing to swing big, then none of that may ever have happened.

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Every batter that steps to the plate feels some sense of fear.  Fear of not connecting with the pitch.  Fear of letting their team and fans down.



You probably experience that same fear when making a big decision ~ especially when that decision is about your business.



Fear is normal.  



But instead of it derailing you, let it drive you.  Use the adrenaline to your advantage and SWING.



I think You will be glad you did!



But that doesn’t mean that you have to go for the huge swing every time.  There are times when the situation may call for a single or even a bunt. 



The key is not to get so complacent that those small hits become enough. There comes a times when you just have to take the chance and go big.



This is especially important for Women Entrepreneurs. 



Too often we lack the belief in ourselves to think and dream big. Or we let others stop us from taking the leap.



It is perfectly normal to question yourself.  What is important, however, is that you don’t let your fear keep you from moving forward.



Consider this quote from Amy Poehler;

“Great people do things before they're ready. They do things before they know they can do it.”



Are You ready to Be Great and Swing Away?



Need Help Moving 
Your Small Business Forward?  
Contact Me Now and I can Help!


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Sunday, April 3, 2016

Renting Property? What You need to Do Before You Choose a Tenant Part 2

Contact Me with Your Tenant Screening Questions!


Choosing a renter is a big decision.  You need to weigh your desire to start making money from your property against the need to keep it damage free, your neighbors safe, and your reputation as a landlord sound. 



Using a well thought out process for screening your renters is the best way to accomplish these goals.




In Part 1 of this series, I shared the steps you need to take before renting your property.  These included screening your applicants, using credit checks, and conducting in-person interviews.  If you missed this article, you can find it here!




In Part 2, you will learn how you can legally use the information uncovered during the screening process to make a safe and sound tenant decision.



Screening Your Tenants Makes Good Business Sense!  “Tweet This”




Once you have obtained the background check, credit report, and done the interview, you have the tools you need to decide whether or not you want to rent to your applicant. 



Fair housing guidelines allow for you, as a landlord, to refuse to rent to an individual.  However, that denial must be based on legal reasons ~ insufficient income to pay the rent, bad credit, or a past criminal history that would make them an unsafe tenant. 



How you choose to use these legal reasons for denial is up to you. For example, if your potential tenant has a criminal record, you may choose to consider how long ago the offenses occurred before making your final decision.  You may even weigh their criminal past against what they have done since then to change.  There is no law that dictates your decision when it comes to these issues.  



However,  it is important that any criteria you use to deny a renter is applied equally to all potential tenants.



That is why it is good business to determine, in advance, what findings would keep you from renting to someone.  This is best done in conjunction with your screening company.  They can guide you or answer any questions you may have. 



Deciding beforehand the issues that would make you reject a prospective tenant is key.  If your parameters are in place, you cannot be accused of preferential treatment or discriminatory renting practices. 



Take Care ~ It is illegal to reject any tenant because of their race, sex, religion, or a disability.  These are considered federally protected statuses.


In addition, there may be state and local discrimination laws to consider.  These would also have an impact on your tenant decision.


Your background check company can both explain and help you follow these guidelines so you don’t run afoul of the FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Agency) or the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission).  Not taking these laws into consideration can open you up to potential lawsuits.


Contact Me ~ I can Help!


If, after assessing the background and credit check information, you decide to reject your applicant, then it is important you understand that they have rights.


The most important is that your applicant is entitled to an “Adverse Action Letter”.  This letter must be in writing and include:


  • the reason for rejection
  • the name and contact information of the agency reporting the negative findings
  • the applicant’s right to a free copy of the report from the agency within 60 days



This allows your applicant the opportunity to dispute or mitigate any information found in the background check and credit reports. You are then able to consider if the explanation provided changes your decision to reject this tenant.



The final decision is yours.


As a landlord, you have the right to rent your property to people who will, and can, pay their rent.  You are also entitled to choose someone who will be a good neighbor and take care of your property.



Screening potential renters is the best way to accomplish this.



It will help you make an informed decision and give you the reputation as a landlord that cares about the safety and integrity of their property and of the community.



There is simply no better way to Protect Your Investment!




I have added Tenant Screening to my services!  I am focused on helping you rent your property more safely and effectively ~ and always with your bottom line in mind!


Find out how I can Help You by visiting my Services and FAQ pages.  
Learn more About Me too!


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