Most employers have serious doubts about the reliability of CVs and academic qualifications, according to research.
The study of 375 major European employers found that just 8% think academic qualifications are always a reliable indicator of how a candidate will perform in a role. The majority (86%) of respondents also believed CVs and application forms contained lies or exaggerations.
Barry Spence, chief executive officer at Cubiks HR consultancy, which carried out the research, said: “It is clear that organisations do not think that academic qualifications alone can provide them with an accurate insight into whether a person has what it takes to succeed.”
Spence said employers were forced to rely on their own selection methods for testing candidates.
Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance
Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday
“Employers are implementing a range of assessment tools and techniques, such as psychometric profiling instruments and ability tests, to find out if candidates really are as good as their CVs make out,” he said.
Almost two-thirds of respondents (59%) said they had had to withdraw job offers at the last minute after receiving poor personal references.
