editor@newlifenetwork.co.uk
 
/images/banner180x150_v2a
 
Print Print-friendly version
Home | Recession makes recruitment checks more stringent

Recession makes recruitment checks more stringent

Posted on Thursday, 23 July 2009 01:41PM by Janet Davies, Editor newlifenetwork.co.uk
Candidates need to make sure that what they claim on their CV can be backed up by prospective employers as Experian Background Checking, the specialist candidate verification service, reveal that the volume of recruitment background checks carried out in the first quarter of 2009 has increased by three per cent, despite the sharp drop in recruitment levels owing to the recession. The increase, measured against the same period in 2008 (January to March), demonstrates a tightening of recruitment practices across all sectors and company sizes.

With the economic downturn, attrition rates in companies are low as employees opt to stay where they are to retain their jobs in an unstable market and businesses recruiting are setting high standards for candidates to reach.

Avis Easteal, General Manager at Experian Background Checking, commented: “The tightening of recruitment practices is a response to the wide pool of candidates that employers can now select from. In times of recession, candidates are more likely to exaggerate their skills and or qualifications on their CV and employers want to be sure of selecting the right candidate. With companies reigning in costs at every opportunity, they don’t want to make a costly recruitment mistake.”

In addition, over the last quarter Experian has seen organisations increasingly looking beyond traditional employment references and requesting additional authentication, criminal record and adverse finance checks. Seven per cent of criminal record checks undertaken over the period highlighted convictions not disclosed in the application thus demonstrating the importance of this check.

Avis Easteal commented: “Organisations are increasingly aware of the financial, legal and reputational risks that recruiting a new employee can expose them to. Employers are becoming more diligent in their decision making and carrying out checks on the character of the candidate through Criminal Record and adverse finance checks rather than just focusing on their ability to do the job. Firms are rightly cautious and vetting candidates to a greater degree.”

So, how does your CV stack up? There is a big difference between deciding that modesty about your achievements is not really the best policy if you want your application stand out, and outright lies. Most employers need to carry out basic checks such as a candidates right to work in the UK, but increasingly, many jobs require additional and stringent stringent clearance e.g. when working with young children, or with confidential and sensitive information. There are also repercussions for recruitment consultancies that do not vet candidates sufficiently rigorously. They could lose a valuable client and they certainly wouldn't retain a candidate on their books for other positions if they are found to be a liability.  So, the moral of the tale is this: don't lie about or omit important information on your CV because it is likely that you will be found out, even if you have been made an offer it could be withdrawn and you might find it impossible to work with reputable recruitment companies in the future.

Content search
Follow mycareersadvice on Twitter
 
/images/mygrad_sm_1
Home|Redundancy help|Expert career advice|Find a great new job|Senior executive careers|Graduate careers|Be your own boss|Learn new skills|Redundancy help for employers|About us|Advertise|Sitemap
 Copyright © newlifenetwork.co.uk 2012
Directory Software by Global 7