Don’t Trust Resumes

It’s wise to have a wary eye when reviewing resumes. Some of them are exercises in creative writing, second only to a salesperson’s expense report, and accomplishments and achievements become embellished with the passage of time.

If someone looks good, take the time to call his or her former employer and confirm what was written in the resume. Check start and end dates of employment. Confirm performance claims. Was he really the number one salesperson? Did he really exceed quota every year? Ask!

Be extra wary if the former employer is no longer available to confirm the information (how convenient!).

If people are prepared to lie on their resume, they’re prepared to lie on their expense records, sales reports, etc.

Take the time to check. The true cost of a bad hire is slow in coming so take the time to hire smart.