April 29, 2006 9:37 AM

Resume padders: they're onto you
Posted by Douglas Eisenhartat 9:37 AM

You know the old maxim "You don't get a second chance to make a first impression?" Never were truer words spoken, especially in the professional realm.

Translation: don't lie on your resume. Not even the least little bit. Once you do, you're sunk. And, sadly, because more and more job seekers are stretching the truth to stay ahead of the competition, more and more companies are taking action:

Employers' fears have sparked a boom in the background-screening industry. About 700 firms exist now, compared to only a handful 10 years ago. Analysts say revenues for the industry are growing 7% to 10% a year. Though exhaustive checks on CEO-level individuals can cost $10,000 or more, some companies offer basic vetting for as little as $10. HireRight of Irvine, Calif., screens 1 million résumés a year and says business has grown tenfold over the past five years: employers have grown so watchful, says David Nachman, the company's head of marketing and business development, that they now check the résumés of temporary staff and local hires in their offices overseas.

Get the picture? If you're still not convinced, read the rest of the article, "Getting wise to lies," from this week's TIME magazine.

Then think twice each time you write that resume. If you can't speak truthfully in an interview to every word and number in the document, then it shouldn't be in there. Period.