Resumes are a great way of gaining a quick introduction to a potential employee. But a candidate that looks good on paper may not always be a great fit for your company. By investigating your candidate’s resume with a critical eye, you may be able to spot early warning signs and prevent future problems. Here are a few red flags you should look for:
Job Hopping
A candidate jumping from job to job in a short time period can be a red flag that your candidate is volatile or flighty. Frequent firings may indicate that the employee is not a team player or is chronically dishonest or lackluster. A candidate that switches jobs frequently of their own volition may be unfocused or undedicated in the long term. However, job hopping can also be a sign of an unpredictable economy. Hiring a reputable background check company will help you determine whether these red flag indicate a real concern or if there is a reasonable explanation for these gaps.
Job Stagnancy
Job stagnancy may be a sign of a lack of ambition, or a lack of significant achievement that has kept a candidate from advancing their career. Previous employers may have also had some other pressing reason for not advancing an employee such as a lack of trust with that employee.
Like job hopping, job stagnancy may also be a sign of the times. A candidate may have preferred the security of a dead end position to the uncertain waters of the job search. They may have also simply loved the job and the company. A candidate like that may be a boon to your company, so it is important to do a thorough pre-employment screening to get to the bottom of your candidate’s unique story.
Gaps in Employment
A long hiatus between job can also be caused by a tough economy. A gap in employment can also be caused by incarceration, a bad reputation that has followed a employee after leaving a job, or a candidate may be deliberately hiding a work experience that they don’t want you to investigate!
Lack of Professionalism
Poor spelling and grammar may be a good sign that your candidate may not perform professionally on the job. A resume is your candidate’s chance to showcase his or her best qualities. If your candidate cannot take this task seriously, or is incapable of presenting a professional face, these are factors that you may want to take into account before hiring an employee.
Resume Padding
Jargon and empty claims can demonstrate and equally empty skill set. Everyone wants to hire a “problem-solver” or someone with “exemplary communication skills,” but if a resume presents no concrete examples of that skill set in action, be careful. Follow up during the interview by asking for specifics.
Dubious Education Credentials
Anyone can type a perfect GPA into their resume but it is much harder to actually earn a perfect grade. Be skeptical of high GPAs and stellar education credentials, especially if they are accompanied by a lackluster employment history or an unimpressive skill set. Request sealed official transcripts to back up your candidate’s claims, or better yet, allow a professional screening service to do the heavy lifting for you!
Have you ever been impressed by a resume only discover a candidate was hiding some worrisome information? What sends up red flags for you when you review a resume? Contact us to discuss employment background screening!