Human resources expert reveals the five traits hiring managers need to look for when interviewing a prospective candidate.
A few years ago, I was at a backyard barbeque when someone asked me what I do for a living. I jokingly responded, “I sit in a chair while people lie to me.” See, as a human resources professional, I have interviewed thousands of job candidates over my career, many of whom have been car dealership employees. And, well, I am amazed at the elaborate lies people come up with in order to land a job.
Job applicants lie on their resumes and in their cover letters. They also ask references to lie on their behalf. They also have no problem lying to your face during the interview. And if you end up hiring a liar, you can expect the same behavior on the job.
According to hiring managers surveyed by CareerBuilder, the Top 5 lies they hear from job seekers relate to the following: embellished skill set at 57%; embellished responsibilities at 55%; dates of employment at 42%; false job title at 34%; and academic degree at 33%. The good news is spotting a liar is easier than you think, and you don’t need advanced CIA interrogation training to do so. It just requires some effort and practice.
Establish a Behavior Baseline
Unfortunately, the idea that “liars won’t look you in the eye” doesn’t work when interviewing a candidate, because the good ones will. And forget what you saw on Law and Order, because you won’t spot every single liar right away. Hey, even polygraphs aren’t 100% accurate.
Spotting a liar requires a little more effort. Start by establishing a candidate’s baseline behavior. This is done by asking simple get-to-know-you questions. As they answer, watch and learn their normal speech patterns, behaviors, and movements. If you notice them fidgeting when answering your get-to-know-you questions, don’t assume they are lying when they fidget later in the interview.
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