Are HR managers ok with the idea of using fake diplomas or are they actively trying to fight against them? As you can imagine, the fake diploma issue has become prevalent for many businesses. In general, what you will notice is that a lot of managers are trying to eliminate fake diplomas as much as possible. But there are also HR managers that just don’t care about fake diplomas, as they take everything at face value.
However, even if the validity of a diploma is not taken into account at first, that doesn’t mean things get ignored in the future. It still makes sense to try and handle those fake diploma problems from the beginning. If not, they might still be prevalent in the long term.
Why are HR managers taking fake diplomas seriously?
- A diploma is seen as the indicator of competence for someone. If a diploma is fake, obviously that means the skills of that person are not shown properly within the diploma. Making sure that you are not dealing with fakes is crucial here, and that’s why you want to be extremely careful as an HR manager.
- The same thing can be said when it comes to risk mitigation. If a company hires someone with fake credentials, that could bring all kinds of liabilities and problems to the company, which again, can be a major issue.
- In addition, the person might not be a proper fit to begin with. If they lie about their credentials, that just goes to show they are problematic, so it’s a better idea to ensure that you eliminate any misunderstanding.
- And of course, there can be compliance problems. A lot of the time, you have positions that require verified qualifications. Having those qualifications will help quite a lot, and it’s also a screening tool that will increase trustworthiness for a person to say the least.
Red flags that HR managers are looking for
Yes, most HR managers are actively trying to find a fake diploma or degree, if that’s the case. However, in a lot of these situations, HR managers will use verification systems and all kinds of tools at their disposal. Yet at the same time, it’s possible for them to figure out if there are various red flags or issues.
- HR managers will check if the institution offering the diploma is accredited or not. That will let them know if a fake diploma is involved, and if that’s the case, then it will be very easy to figure that out very fast.
- They will also check for irregular dates or gaps. If there are inconsistencies in employment or a lack of dates to back up the claims of the applicant, that will be a red flag as well.
- Generic formatting is also a sign of a red flag. Most of the time, a degree will have very specific, custom formatting and features. If those are missing, that could lead to a red flag as well.
- Exaggerated qualifications will also trigger some signs that something is wrong. You always want to make sure that the person you hire has all the necessary qualifications. And if you start doing that, it will only make the overall process much easier to handle and manage.
- The same thing is valid when it comes to having inconsistent contact information for the issuing institution. If that’s a problem that appears, it could be that the institution is fake. Granted, that doesn’t always lead to such a conclusion, but it could very well be the case. That’s why you need to take things very seriously.
Are there any consequences if applicants are using a fake diploma?
Of course, fake diplomas are very problematic and can prove to be extremely challenging in the long run. The truth is that you always want to find yourself sharing a diploma that’s valid. If you use a fake diploma, the first issue that arises is that you could lose your job. There are also legal implications, too. You could be sued because you had a fake degree and that can prove to be a major issue that arises, and you obviously need to address that the best way that you can.
It can also lead to major career damage and reputational issues, too. The same thing is valid when it comes to trust issues. Even if you continue working within that niche, that doesn’t mean people will continue to trust you. It’s more important than ever to find ways of dealing with such problems, and identifying ways of tackling problems in a way that’s powerful and extremely professional.
Verification practices used by HR managers
Naturally, every HR manager will try to ensure that they hire the right people. And they are aware that some applicants will use a fake degree in order to stand out of the crowd. They will narrow down multiple candidates, and when they are close to deciding the right person, they will do a background check for everyone. These checks will vary when it comes to their structure, but they do include:
- Third party background checks, which means that you will be able to use a separate verification tool or company. Those are known for being quite effective in contacting universities and even finding signs that a document was forged or falsified.
- Digital credential verification systems that involve using the blockchain can be inherently helpful, and these can prove to be extremely useful, especially when there are worries that someone falsified their identity.
- Connecting with a school contact or former employer could help, as it can tell some things regarding the diploma or degree used.
- And yes, the same thing is valid when it comes to getting into professional networks. Sometimes, HR departments use that as the means to cross-check the career history of a person, the real one compared to the fake diploma and resume that were sent.
HR departments will use a cultural fit assessment, ethical evaluation, but also long-term risk analysis when they want to hire someone. It’s not a walk in the park, they always want to deliver a high degree of professionalism and consistency, and they do want to pick the right hire.
Sometimes, picking the best person can be hard, especially these days when people use fake degrees to try and appear better-qualified than they really are. Vigilance, focus and going through all the different methods you can use to implement diplomas, that can help immensely. It’s definitely not a simple thing you can pursue. But in the long run, it protects the business from legal consequences.
Conclusion
Every company knows how difficult it can be to deal with fake diplomas. Not only is that a challenge for the business itself, but it can lead to severe legal issues down the line. You always want to hire the right people and ensure you get an excellent outcome. It’s not a walk in the park to do that, but once it’s implemented correctly, the results can be amazing. That’s why HR managers always focus on diploma verification, because these days you can never be too careful. A lot of people are willing to use a fake credential and diploma to get the upper hand and access a job they want, so the role of HR departments is to identify those exaggerated claims and fake degrees!
