A recent CNBC article reported nearly 20% of candidates have changed their names on resumes.
How do you handle this when you get on an interview call and the person introduces themselves as a different name? Or worse yet, how do you handle this when you missed this crucial detail in the interview process, and suddenly realize you may be hiring someone that is not who they said they were?
These are questions many hiring authorities find themselves answering daily.
Consider the larger data integrity and regulatory repercussions also. How many times do you have the same person in your database now with different names? How does this phenomenon affect your EEOC and/or DEI reporting?
AI is only increasing this trend that began with agencies who sponsored tech professionals for H1Bs using resumes as marketing tools to get new projects for their firms. Now, those same agencies have built AI bots that send out resume applications for people, using the same resume body with different names and email addresses. This phenomenon also compounds the ghosting issues companies face when candidates no-show an interview that’s been set.
The best and most effective way to put an end to this challenge is to have a trust based relationship with a reputable executive search and staffing firm, like the Merito Group, who can head off all these challenges for you. Making hiring easy for decision makers across the company only benefits everyone. Faster, better qualified hires reduces turnover because employees are less burned out when jobs are filled faster. Hiring managers are empowered to make decisions that benefit their teams in alignment with HR policies as the search firm has been engaged to assist as necessary when the departments need help. Productivity increases as new, enthusiastic employees often come in with fresh ideas and energize the remaining team that’s been holding it together till they were onboarded.
And if you’re faced with an unusual situation as the CNBC article mentions, ask for proof of identification prior to starting the interview to save yourself some valuable time. Most people who are not who they say they are will disappear when confronted to provide proof of identity.