Jeopardizing Careers, Fake References Plague India Inc.: TimesJobs Study

NEW DELHI, February 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Nearly 20-30% Candidates Tend to Fake References Even When 70% HR Managers Rely on Them for Quality Hires, Says a TimesJobs Study With Responses From Over 650 Recruiters 

About 75% HR managers, employers and recruiters ask for references when hiring a candidate. This is because they attach a lot of significance to references. So much so that, 58% employers always contact the references (for background checks) provided by the applicant. Despite such preference for references from the HR managers, 20-30% candidates fake references in their resumes, state HR Managers in a TimesJobs study.

Indicating fake references as one of the key pain areas for any recruiter and a losing ground for job seekers, Sujaya Rao, an independent HR professional says, "Job seekers typically share references of people who can put in a commendable good word for their work. But often during reference checks, some of these references put in a pale mention of the candidate."

Reference Checks are Very Significant say Majority of Employers 

Underlining the significance of reference checks, 40% hiring managers say that it ensures better and informed hiring decisions. Nearly 30% HR managers say it helps exclude applicants with inappropriate workplace behaviour and for 21%, it helps them check the cultural fit of the candidate.

• 48% HR managers state reference checks are the most crucial aspect while hiring for middle-level positions
• 40% HR managers find reference checks important when hiring senior professionals
• 12% HR managers say reference checks are necessary for hiring junior level employees.

Only 9% of the surveyed HR managers claimed that reference checks are not of much importance to them and only a basic random check may be conducted while hiring a candidate.

Reinforcing the benefits, Sunil Goel, MD of GlobalHunt, says, "It is very important for the hiring managers to know the truth behind the resume. Since, it is difficult to get the facts from the job seeker in a 1 or 2 hour long interview where the focus is also on other aspects, including - body language and personality, conducting reference checks seems to be the ideal method."

False References are Jeopardizing Careers 

The frequency of fake resumes encountered by the HR managers is so high that almost 10-20% applicants are rejected every month post their reference checks say the surveyed employers. This is because of the high rate of false references provided by job seekers, which result in most HR managers developing unfavourable opinions towards the job seeker, often leading to rejection.

• 59% HR managers say they develop an unfavourable opinion towards a candidate post a false reference checks, while
• 36% HR managers say they develop a favourable opinion towards the candidate post a positive reference checks
• Only 5% HR managers say references don't matter to them and the interview is the deciding factor

In view of this finding Zarin Bhathena, Senior VP and Head - HR, Wordline - South Asia and Middle East, says that fake references have long-term repercussions. "References lend credibility to an employee's character. On conducting a check, if the reference turns out to be false, the organization may or may not terminate the individual but the trustworthiness of the employee is definitely hampered," says Bhathena.

Commenting on this finding, Nilanjan Roy, Head of Strategy, Times Business Solutions says, "Ensure the references you provide in applications are credible, and that these people are able to provide an honest appraisal of your skills."

"In addition, employers are increasingly scanning candidates' social references. For instance, even though Facebook is a personal space, inappropriate comments, images or complaints have led to rejections of some candidates in the past. So ensure your posts and privacy settings are strong across all your social media," adds Roy.

This TimesJobs Study was conducted with inputs from over 650 HR Managers pan-India across key sectors including IT, telecom, manufacturing, healthcare, retail, FMCG, consumer durables, travel and hospitality, BFSI, media & entertainment, infrastructure, BPO and ITeS.

About TimesJobs: 

TimesJobs, a flagship business of Times Business Solutions (TBS), is a platform to help competent professionals make smarter career decisions. With over 25 million registered jobseekers across the board and more than 60 million page views every month, it is fast becoming the most preferred career portal among the candidates. 

TimesJobs is leading in the recruitment and employment space with its pioneering and dynamic divisions because it successfully meets all the needs of the jobseekers. Its major platforms include:

• TechGig: India's biggest dais for tech professionals to help them Learn, Showcase & Compete in the IT industry.
• JobBuzz: A well-known portal that provides information & insights about different companies, job profiles and interview processes. 
• StepAhead: StepAhead offers Professional Resume writing and distribution services, career astrology, and resume improvement to help jobseekers accelerate their career.

Also, TimesJobs has the largest collection of jobs in the market, which ensures that whenever and wherever there is a great opportunity, jobseekers will discover it on the platform.

In the recruitment market as well, being the biggest platform for competent professionals who think of their careers first, TimesJobs has become the destination of choice for recruiters who seek to engage with the right talent.

Media Contact:
Aseem Seth 
Head of Corporate Communications 
Times Business Solutions - A Division of Times Internet Ltd. 
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @aseems
Tel: +91-120-663-6338, +91-9910-273367