IN the current economic climate where unemployment is high, employment application fraud is rampant.
Job seekers are desperate and employers are being duped.
This is the bald fact noted by human resource consulting firm Manpower Managing Director Lyndy van den Barselaar in addressing the risk of companies nationwide employing individuals based on fake qualifications, fabricated former work experience and false competencies.
And Zululand is no exception.
According to recruitment company Pro-Staffing Richards Bay Co-Director Paul Pereira, local corporates and businesses have become increasingly stringent when considering prospective employees owing to disappointing employments in the past.
‘Make no mistake – the problem does exist in this area and many companies are adding more layers to the hiring process than ever before,’ says Pereira.
‘Thankfully, we’ve been able to ‘sniffle’ out fraudsters before they are employed by our clients.’
Manpower and recruitment agencies highlight the importance of doing background checks and verifying facts on CVs before hiring any individual.
‘About 10% of CVs received for screening contain some sort of fraudulent information and it is widespread, with candidates ranging in age, job level and industries,’ says Pereira.
‘Common themes related to fraudulent CVs are stretching of dates of employment, inflating past accomplishments and skills, enhancing job titles and responsibilities, false information related to education and degrees, unexplainable gaps in employment owing to a criminal record, omitting past employment, faking credentials, fabricating reasons for leaving a previous job and providing fraudulent references.’
In sifting through the submissions, Pereira says every CV should face an ‘acid test’ in which credentials, IDs, qualifications, criminal records and employment references are all checked.
‘It is also absolutely essential that the rights of people are taken into consideration and complied with in terms of credentials verification act,’ he said.
Tackling lies in interviews
‘Employees often lie about the number of years they held a certain position, or about academic achievements,’ states Van den Barselaar.
She suggests asking specific questions about statements made on the CV during the interview.
‘Careful questioning should reveal differences between stated facts and reality.
‘Look for suspicious behaviour such as vague answers to questions, or citing confidentiality for not being able to answer certain questions,’ says Van den Barselaar.
