Lies and Hunches

Resumes are often filled with lies. Some people should get a Pulitzer Prize in fiction for what they try to sell as fact. They lie mostly about their job positions and responsibilities, their education and certification, salary, and how long they worked for a firm. So, it doesn’t make sense to hire people based on a piece of paper.

Hiring should be based on a number of factors that you weigh before making a decision. These include: the interview, testing, background and reference checks. The interview process needs to include behavioral based questions, work simulations and the evaluations of work samples. The testing needs to include the old fashion IQ test, and assessments that evaluate people’s value systems to see that they fit your firm’s values. The background check includes using a professional company that does nothing but background checks. Talking to references is something that the applicant should set up between you and the reference. This tells you how bad they want the job and shows self initiative.

Lastly, never hire on a hunch--except after you have done all of the above. Your hunches are only accurate when you have done your homework. If you have two equal candidates, and have done all of the above, then you can make an objective decision along with your intuition, and pick the right one.