Personality Zone

Increased Security Affects Your Hiring

Since 9/11 security has increased in many different areas.  Companies that received money from the government have had to increase the paperwork and investigation of new and even old employees.  While this may or may not have trickled down to small independent employers, it's best that you become aware of how this could affect you.


While investigating references has been common practice for awhile, anything that you say on your job application is coming under increased scrutiny.  CareerBuilder.com surveys hiring managers.  One report says that 31% of applicants lied in their applications and 19% bad-mouthed their last company.

Any type can lie, and any type can have poor judgment.  Much of one's behavior comes from the examples set by parents and neighborhood environment.  Guardians are the most likely to avoid risks, but if lying is considered normal, they can lie with the best of them.  Artisans are the most likely to seek risks and may be tempted to lie, but if they have adopted a personal code of honor, they can be committed to the truth.  Idealists prefer to seek the good, but will lie if they see it as promoting the common good or if it helps them out of feeling trapped.  Rationals prefer the impersonal truth, but if they see it as helping them reach their long-term goals, they can put together a very well-thought-out package that leads others to believe something that is not real.  Most of us will lie to protect our self-image, but lying to a potential employer is likely to result in NO job—either now or in the future.

Here are some tips to help you:

1. Do not use a cutesy and/or sexual-sounding email address on your application.  Keep it professional.

2. Be truthful on your application.  People from Asian cultures who are trained not to brag need to learn how to highlight their skills, while others may need to tone down their bragging.

3. Make sure anything you write on your application or resume has no spelling errors. Many employers will not hire you for higher paying jobs if they catch errors.

4. If you claim a degree, most companies will ask for a sealed copy of your transcript.  Get an unsealed copy for yourself so you know what it says.

5. Talk to the people whom you will use as references and confirm that they are willing to speak for you.  Ask what they would tell an employer about you.

6. Run a search about yourself on the internet before you apply for a job. You can even sign up for a Google Alert, which tells you when your name is mentioned on-line. Some people have posted provocative photographs.  Others have bragged about drinking or doing drugs.  Still others have had enemies post negative things about them.  Employ an identity management company, such as Reputation-Defender or Defendmyname, to clean up negative or unprofessional information posted about you on the Internet.
 
7. If you have a criminal past or were fired from your last job, be up-front with your potential employer and disclose the issues. Don't leave it to them to find out after the interview through their own investigations.

8. NEVER share confidential information you learned in your last company.

Lies and revealing confidences will convince others that you are untrustworthy and a poor job candidate.