| recruitment agency |
5 Signs that Your Candidate Is Lying
Sometimes, candidates lie, and if you’re not paying enough attention, you might fall for it.
Here are 5 signs that your candidate may be lying to you.
Here are 5 signs that your candidate may be lying to you.
In the high-stakes world of recruitment, the truth is often elusive.
Picture this: you're sifting through a mountain of resumes, conducting interviews left and right, but lurking in the shadows are candidates who weave a web of deception.
And if this person slips through the gaps and gets the position, the effects can be dangerous to your business.
For instance, a mishire can create a hefty bill of replacement costs, a nosedive in productivity, and the morale of your company taking a hit.
Picture this: you're sifting through a mountain of resumes, conducting interviews left and right, but lurking in the shadows are candidates who weave a web of deception.
And if this person slips through the gaps and gets the position, the effects can be dangerous to your business.
For instance, a mishire can create a hefty bill of replacement costs, a nosedive in productivity, and the morale of your company taking a hit.
A study from the Employment Screening Benchmark Report by HireRight, a heavyweight in employment background checks, exposes the grim reality.
Back in 2012, 66% of employers had stumbled upon lies or misrepresentations on resumes. Fast forward to 2018, and that number skyrockets to a staggering 84%.
Most lies are related to their skills, claiming to be proficient at something that they are not.
Back in 2012, 66% of employers had stumbled upon lies or misrepresentations on resumes. Fast forward to 2018, and that number skyrockets to a staggering 84%.
Most lies are related to their skills, claiming to be proficient at something that they are not.
The question then becomes: how do you spot these during an interview?
Here are 5 signs that your candidate is lying:
Here are 5 signs that your candidate is lying:
- They lean solely on group accomplishments: as much as collaboration is great in a workplace, keep an eye on candidates who only talk about accomplishments as a group and not individual ones.
- They get defensive: if you ask something that goes more deeply into their experiences and they seem to be deflecting the question, you may be facing some trouble.
- They exaggerate their experiences: their resume might be impressive, but if you assess their skills with tricky questions or a test task, you may be surprised by a spoof.
- Pay attention to their body language: constant fidgeting, darting eyes, or avoiding eye contact are also red flags.
- Their answers are vague: if you ask a thoughtful question and they respond imprecisely or with an irrelevant answer, this can be a bad sign.
- Their past experiences are blurry: when you ask a question about a previous situation they’ve been through and they can’t bring any examples, this may also be something to keep an eye on.
- They are hesitant about their references: when asked about their previous employers’ references, a lying candidate may try to find excuses about why you can’t contact their references.
Fees insights
Retalent's Team
By closely observing these indicators, you'll be able to detect any subtle dishonesty in your candidate's behavior. Paying attention to these small details can help you make more informed and reliable hiring decisions.