Interview Tips & Techniques #1: The Importance of Education Verification |
February 04, 2008 |
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Posted by Lisa Sprowls at 08:00 PM | Comments (0) |
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My name is Lisa Sprowls and I am a Filtration Recruiter. I work on many sales, engineering, executive and management level positions serving the search and recruitment needs of both large and small manufacturers and distributors in the Filtration, Water & Wastewater, Separations and Environmental Industries. With each and every finalist candidate that we present to our clients, we also provide a complete background check. Our background checks are provided by our parent company, BackTrack Inc., http://www.backtracker.com/. All reports provided include employment verification, education verification, social security trace report, motor vehicle report, reference checking and criminal records searches.
Today, more than any other time in our industry, more and more employers are requesting completed background checks prior to extending an offer to a potential candidate. With this in mind, it is very important that you, the candidate, provide a very clear and honest picture of your background to a potential new employer.
As with many situations, preparation is the key to success. The job market is very competitive and you probably will not be the only qualified candidate for a position. The deciding factor may simply be your background check. One minor exaggeration are dates of employment or degree, may remove you from the running. As a Filtration Recruiter, I have seen candidates not be considered for positions by what has been verified or not verified on their background check.
Let’s begin with education, one of the most commonly misrepresented areas of a resume.
With the advent of the Internet, there has been an explosion in the number of unaccredited or diploma mills schools. With the proliferation of sites on the internet promising “degrees for life experience”, “degrees without setting foot inside of a classroom,” “earn the degree you deserve in six weeks,” and others, it has become easier for people to simply buy a college degree without having the skills or qualifications necessary.
Emails containing these promises arrive daily in your in box. As these “schools” become more prevalent, you may be tempted to sign up, pay the money and receive such a degree as to make your resume appear more creditable. Be leery of these types of schools. In order for a background screening company to verify your degree, it must come from an accredited school not what is called a “diploma mill”.
For more details regarding diploma mills, click here: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html
or http://www.ope.ed.gov/accreditation.
or http://www.ope.ed.gov/accreditation.
You may also choose to provide on your resume that you did receive a degree, when in fact you are actually just a few credits short or may still owe funds to the school. When a background check is conducted, the company will contact the school and provide to the employer that you do not have a degree. You may think this is minor, but to an employer, this becomes a red flag as to the type of person you are.
Come back often to view more interview tips and techniques that will assist you in your interviewing process. To learn more about our organization or what positions we may have that you may have an interest in, please contact me at 800-992-3875 ext. 313.
Lisa Sprowls
Filtration Recruiter
Recruiter Solutions International
8850 Tyler Blvd.
Mentor, OH 44060
800-992-3875 ext. 313
