Verifying a job applicant's factual credentials.

Nearly one-third of all job applicants may make unjustified claims, exaggerate, omit important information, or lie in their resumes, employment applications, or interviews. Checking credentials before you hire is the best way to protect your staff and patients and to save time, money, and effort. In this article, the author identifies the most common job application lies and pinpoints the three most common resume/application red flags. In addition, the article suggests specific information that the applicant should supply in the application to help the employer get to the truth. It offers practical advice for verifying academic credentials, employment history, and awards and honors. Finally, this article provides useful suggestions for avoiding discrimination suits in hiring practices and techniques for coping with employees who have lied to you.