Numerous researchers in Social Psychology have, in recent years, shown that we “lie” from 20 to 100 times per day. It seems that lying is an essential aspect of successful social interaction. As philosopher Bertrand Russell observed “what would happen if we suddenly acquired the ability to read each others thoughts? I suppose, after a short time, all friendships would be dissolved.”

Let’s face it, we do lie, several times each day, at least. Therefore it is hardly surprising that, if you type “C.V. lies” into Google on your computer you will find 4, 6000 000 references. In reading some of these references it will soon become clear that, in the USA, for example, close to 50% of C.V.’s have been found, upon careful checking, to contain lies about previous jobs, experience, qualifications etc. So it’s obviously of interest for us to determine the “lie levels” prevalent in developing countries in which the contrast between “job” and “no job” is so much higher than in countries where the contrast is between “job” and “social welfare payments” such as the UK and France, for example.

C.V. Validity Research

My company recently carried out some intensive (and exhausting) research into the levels of “incorrectness” that occur in C.V.’s presented by graduate-level job applicants in Zimbabwe. We selected (with as much randomization as we were able to apply) a total of 30 C.V.’s of which 15 had been lodged with us as part of employee selection exercises, and 7, and 8, by 2 Employment Agents who obligingly participated. Checking on these C.V.’s was a laborious, frustrating and time-consuming procedure involving considerable telephone costs and numerous non-response e-mails.

Some Research Results

Full data is available through our e-mail address; the following are some of the findings of our survey:

1.Eighty seven percent of “mis-information” was in the favourable direction. For example, third class degree obtained, second class degree claimed in the C.V.

2.Three of the 30 persons were found to have been dismissed, of which 2 had experienced multiple dismissals. None of these were reported in the 3 C.V.’s!

3.Perfectly correct educational qualifications were found in only six of the C.V.’s.

4.Four persons had detectable criminal records. 

In concluding the paper, we said “International research has shown high levels of falsification in C.V.’s. This study has produced further confirmation of C.V. mis-information and indicates that employers should carry out thorough checks on C.V.’s submitted by job applicants in Zimbabwe, as elsewhere. 

Advice to Job Applicants

1. Don’t lie in compiling your C.V., as the prospective employer will be able to find out if you have done so, albeit with difficulty and expense. Legally, lying in your job application can be categorized as fraud.
2. Be prepared to explain gaps between jobs, reasons for leaving jobs and any other details about which the interviewer might ask.
3. Begin now to plan for a C.V. which, when checked will reflect favorably on you. Google will yield 10, 200, 200 linkages if you enter with C.V. secrets (some secrets!).  

Advice to Employers

1. Ensure that all C.V.’s are carefully checked before job offers are made. An inappropriately chosen employee can be disruptive, costly, and time and energy consuming, as you have probably already discovered through painful experience.
2. If it is clear that an employee is, despite the best of managerial inputs, coaching, counseling etc., seriously under-performing, then check the C.V.! There is a massive probability, (my guess in excess of 80%), that fraudulent information will be found in the C.V. submitted when such a person applied for the job. When you discover that, your options are obvious and relatively easy!
3. On the application forms that you provide to job seekers, state clearly that it is your policy carefully to check all information provided in the C.V.
4. When using an Employment Agent, request detailed information on any aspects of the C.V. which have been checked. 

Advice on how to write a C.V. is contained in the “Rotary Careers and Self-Development Handbook” available via Peter Compton on 04-486790/1.