The Truth is Out There (apologies to X-Files fans)

I recall very early on in my recruitment career, maybe less than a year in, that I was passed a bunch of CVs by my line manager for review. They were “grads” like me and he was interested to know my opinion on them for some assignment or other. One caught my eye as it was a guy who was at the same school as me, and in the same year group as me. A natural superstar, I thought.

On closer inspection of the “achievements” of a fresh graduate (always a challenge) there was a proud statement: ‘Vice-Captain of the 1st XV rugby team’. That speaks volumes of the young man’s competitive spirit, work ethic and ability to both operate in a team and lead. Surely. The only problem, was that I WAS in the 1st XV rugby team at school as well. I did not attain the heady heights of Vice Captain but played in the team for the final two years of school and having been together as a group for most of our seven years at The Judd School, we were a close knit group and great friends. Many are connections on LinkedIn.

The issue was, this individual had lied. A blatant lie. Not an augmentation of his CV, but a blatant lie that he calculated would be difficult to verify by a future employer. He was not the Vice-Captain. Indeed, he was not even in the 1st XV. In fact, in the four years since leaving school, I could not even picture who this kids was. Suffice to say, he ended up on the “No” pile for the assignment.

Whilst comparisons to other, current, more high-profile examples of augmenting your CV (or not) are maybe a little stretched, the point is the same: there is always someone out there that knows the truth. Not your version of the truth. The actual facts.

And in our social world, it is even easier to uncover than ever before.

This is nothing new. I have posted on this subject before - see earlier posts about lying on your CV and the use of social media as a verification tool - but the news today is timely reminder to us all.

And between the extremes of a fresh graduate looking for their first job in marketing, and a very experienced professional seeking the post of First Lord of The Treasury, I was disappointed recently by a more subtle augmentation. I received the CV of an established executive who had worked for a company I know very well about 5 years ago. They had quoted the turnover of this SME to be more than three times higher than it actually was (or indeed still is). A minor point, maybe, but in trying to position their experience at a different level to which they had operated, they were misleading.

Whether putting your best foot forward with an amazing profile on LinkedIn, or formally submitting your CV for a specific appointment, please remember how easy it can be to come unstuck.

Not that I would want to apply for the job of Prime Minister. Although I think the family and I look good on the doorstep…

Any views?

Mark