CV VERIFICATION

It is a sad fact that well over 20 percent - and increasing - of all potential employees either exaggerate or lie outright on their curriculum vitaes when applying for jobs, promotion, or when changing careers.

This practice is not limited to middle or lower level employees either: research both locally and internationally has shown that an increasingly large number of top level and senior management also exaggerate or misrepresent on the CVS. Top flight executives who have been caught out in South Africa include SANDF Generals, well known businessmen and academics alike.

Having an unqualified person work for you is not just a case of dishonesty: it can also lead to serious workplace danger, if an unqualified person is in charge of potentially harmful machinery or goods. It can also dramatically affect productivity.

Finally, an employee who is prepared to lie outrageously on his or her CV when applying for a job, must also be considered a security risk: have they lied in order to gain access to the premises? Or, just as bad, have they lied and will they then continue to show dishonest behavioural  patterns within the workplace if appointed?

All of these issues need to be be considered by all employers. Much potential harm can be prevented by simply checking out an applicant's CV, and the costs involved are minimal.