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Technology catches embellishments

21 Jun 2010

Debbie Goodman-Bhyat MD of Jack Hammer Executive Headhunters says that the ease of access to 'networking' technologies such as Google, Linkedin, Facebook or Twitter is becoming increasingly valuable. "We are using these tools more and more frequently to supplement the research we conduct within our large corporate networks - so to embellish your CV when fact verification is so accessible is downright foolish".

"Candidates do sometimes bend the truth, or even tell outright lies about their experience, but they should know, even when they're headhunted, that due diligence and personal verifications will be conducted at some point in the process and any misrepresentations are very likely to be uncovered."

"Furthermore, independent verification agencies are utilized in almost all professional appointments prior to extending an offer to a candidate, in order to ensure that the new employee has a 'clean' credit and criminal record, as well as accredited academic credentials. Therefore, these days it is tough to escape the scrutiny provided by technology - if used diligently.

"The risk of being caught out, and the damage to your reputation, is just too high. And reputation aside, embellishment can land employees in deep water in terms of not being able to cope with the inflated responsibilities they've talked themselves into," she concludes.