Employers have always been able to fire employees who lie about their qualifications but making a bad choice in the first place is expensive and estimated to cost three to five times the individual’s salary.
According to Beilby Chief Executive Martin Nicholls, most companies needed to be much more diligent if they wanted to reduce the risks of poor recruitment.
Managers required better interview training as less than 50 per cent of interviewers actually felt that they were adequately equipped for the task. They also needed check references and other claims more carefully.
Mr Nicholls said it was vital for employers to pursue references thoroughly, with the right people, and to sight proof of academic qualifications, such as degrees and certificates. Psychological testing was also useful in verifying an applicant’s attitude and ability and some organisations went as far as to provide interviewers with training in non-verbal communication cues so they could decipher whether applicants were telling the truth or not.
“Essentially, there is risk associated with all recruitment,” he said. “That makes it critical for businesses to design thorough recruitment processes and make sure people adhere to them.”
If you choose to recruit your own personnel, rather than use a professional placement agency, here are some basic tips to help you avoid the pitfalls.
Firstly, find out what personal information you are entitled to ask on forms and in interviews, and what authorisation you need to carry out proper reference and qualification checks.
Before offering a position to a candidate, undertake a stringent pre-employment check. Collect as much information about the person as you legally can and make sure you have the applicant’s written consent before you:
Potential employers may freely request information from any referee offered by the applicant but not from previous employers who have not been nominated. If you wish to speak to someone who is not on the list, first ask the applicant for permission. If their answer is no, there is a fair chance the applicant may be hiding something.