Lying to Employers.

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 498.

Part 3

Poor Research Prior to Interviews.

I started a recent interview by saying, "As you know, we're merging with XYZ company, so..." The candidate interrupted me, asking, "Who are you merging with?" Since the pending merger had been featured in newspaper and television stories for weeks, I wasn't impressed.

Research the field, profession and company before each meeting and come well armed with background facts and questions. Whenever possible, network with employees to learn about the company's pressing issues and what to expect during interviews.

Also, "make contact with people who are doing what you want to be doing in five years and ask them how they got there," advises Ed Echt, managing partner of Athenium Learning Corp. in Simi Valley, Calif.

v Comprehension check

o Answer the following questions using information from the article to support your ideas. Remember to use the article vocabulary to the maximum:

1. What job hunters are more likely to receive job offers?

2. What is the most critical component of any interview?

3. What are the most important pre-interview steps?

4. What are the most important post-interview steps?

5. What should you do before an interview?

v Active vocabulary

o Study the following vocabulary items and collocations:

To be caught lying

To escape detection

A sixth sense

To ring true

To beat out other applicants

Seemingly good credentials

To be several credits short of one's degree

To rescind the offer

To verify dates of employment

To reveal inadvertently

To be home free

To lay out career goals

To know what you want

An attitude of team work and cooperation

A sense of self

To lack basic communication skills

A key player

To repeat the information back for clarification

To sell employers on one's skills and future value

A sample of previous accomplishment

To present one's background

To translate what you've done into benefits employers can use

v Cultural notes

Credit – official acceptance and recording of the work completed by a student in a particular course of study.

HMO– health maintenance organization.

W4– Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate – the form is completed by an employee so that his / her employer can withhold the correct amount of Federal income tax from the pay.

o Read the text. Do the comprehension check below:

Would you lie, cheat or steal to get a job? You may think not, but you'd be surprised how often applicants are caught lying. They expect to escape detection, not realizing that interviewing hundreds of people annually has caused most corporate recruiters to develop a sixth sense that alerts them when answers don't ring true.

A candidate I interviewed for an entry-level analyst's job at a health maintenance organization beat out 10 other applicants for the job because of his seemingly good academic credentials and internship experience. When he was offered the job pending verification of his degree and references, the ecstatic recruit said he "couldn't wait" to call his fiancée.

Two hours later, his dream of working for the HMO was over. His references sang his praises, but his college told me he was nine credits short of his degree. The company's policy about lying on resumes and job applications was clear: Rescind the offer. Sadly, the job didn't even require a college degree, so he had lied for nothing.

Most recruiters will verify dates of employment, academic degrees, references, previous earnings, GPAs, club memberships and whether candidates have criminal records. If you've been working, employers may ask to see your W-4 forms from the previous year to confirm your earnings, and view a refusal as a red flag. A reference also can inadvertently reveal a candidate's mistruths during a friendly chat with a recruiter.

If you lie to land a position, don't assume you're home free after being hired, either. Most companies have strict policies regarding dishonest applicants. You'll likely be asked to sign a legal statement attesting to the truth of your claims. If a lie is uncovered later, you'll lose your job.