Resume Organizations

Start from the start, check up on basic information This is probably the easiest part of vetting any person's resume: the background check. Much information is public, and there are plenty of data vendor who will run the DMV, address and credit information for a small fee. Many also call previous employers to verify work dates and basic performance ratings.

I recommend:  Some basic background checking companies include Intelius, Background Information Services, ADP, ChoicePoint, Accufacts, and SentryLink.

Curious about that fancy degree? Ask the applicant to provide records The biggest red flag in a resume, other than hidden convictions, is an improbable college degree. If the applicant says they graduated from Harvard Business School, they should have no problem giving you access to an signed, stamped transcript.

I recommend:  Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, students can get a printed transcript of their courses and grades at no cost, but employers cannot. If that's your chief concern, just ask the applicant to produce it.

If you are hiring a specific skill, like data entry, test them Ninety-five words per minute? Extensive experience with computer languages? If you find previous employers are reticent to speak ill (or at all), your applicant should have no problem taking a few tests in advance.

I recommend:  Pre-employment testing services run the gamut, some of the software and Web-based, from companies like Kronos, Brainbench, Expertrating.com, HR Assessments, Valtera, eSkill, Halogen and Predictive Profiles.

Always verify military service, even if you feel unpatriotic doing it Checking up might seem unnecessarily obtrusive, but do it anyway. The number of medals claimed over time always exceeds several times over the total decorations on record. Likewise, the guy who peeled potatoes at Fort Bragg eventually claims he helped liberate Baghdad, expecting that no one will ever ask for proof. Consider it a service to the real soldiers.

I recommend:  Get military records in about 10 days (for soldiers who served after 1973) from the National Archives in St. Louis. Older records might take a few weeks longer.