Reply to: "IT contractors axed over CV lies"

[BlackenedBiker]

The problem with IT is that there is no central body that lists what qualifications a person has. It is one thing stretching out a few gigs for CV continuity another to basically claim a qualification which I am sure happens on a massive scale, esp with bobs.

I know someone that claims to have a J2EE architect certification and has only passed the first and easiest exam.

I must say I put my experience onto linked in recently and noticed that some of the dates are well out.

And your real name is, just so I know

[minestrone]

The problem with IT is that there is no central body that lists what qualifications a person has. It is one thing stretching out a few gigs for CV continuity another to basically claim a qualification which I am sure happens on a massive scale, esp with bobs.

I know someone that claims to have a J2EE architect certification and has only passed the first and easiest exam.

I must say I put my experience onto linked in recently and noticed that some of the dates are well out.

[singhr]

Would you say you are qualified when you are not?

No - that goes against my morals. My techie days are over though and now I get hired for my business knowledge/analysis skills so never have anyone requesting certificates etc.

[Doggy Styles]

I have no qualms about stretching truth on CV to appear more experienced, closing gaps to make things look continuous or guilding the lilly when it comes to explaining my role on a project. It's dog eat dog and buyer beware.

Would you say you are qualified when you are not?

[singhr]

I have no qualms about stretching truth on CV to appear more experienced, closing gaps to make things look continuous or guilding the lilly when it comes to explaining my role on a project. It's dog eat dog and buyer beware.

[Doggy Styles]

Reading this thread led to think about certain IT service companies that in order to get government and other contracts lie and claim:

That they have SC staff (when in fact they don’t)
Qualified & certified staff (when in fact they don’t)
Engage contractors for a particular project and tell them to lie to customers that they are members of staff.

And this could have been my fourth.

I'm very comfortable with those geezers in the article getting the elbow.

[Doggy Styles]

I've worked with people who claim to be ISEB certified when clearly they aren't. I've worked with people who said they knew QC inside and out yet I had to show them the basic stuff.

People who lie on their cv to get jobs are cheats. One can only wonder what the rest of their work is like.

This could have been my third point.

[Paddy]

Reading this thread led to think about certain IT service companies that in order to get government and other contracts lie and claim:

That they have SC staff (when in fact they don’t)
Qualified & certified staff (when in fact they don’t)
Engage contractors for a particular project and tell them to lie to customers that they are members of staff.

[threaded]

Hi,

First post, just thought I'd join up as you guys are pretty fun and know your stuff.

I'm in quality also, yup ISEB qualified and Mercury trained.
How are you finding the UK job market, is it miserable like it is here [Dublin]

Dave

You should really start a new thread to say hello. It'll get lost in the noise down in here...

[Spacecadet]

This article on ContractorUK dressed up as news is nothing more than product placement for Powerchex.

Contractors in the computer jobs market are being warned to stick to the truth, as four senior IT freelancers have had their contracts pulled for lying on their CVs.

The four contractors, who all supplied financial services, were instantly let go after they were unable to prove claims on their CVs about their IT qualifications.

Yet rather than being exposed at application stage, each of the freelancers was caught out during a screening of an existing IT contract which they were renegotiating.

Such end-of-contract 'fact-checks' on IT freelancers’ skills and qualifications are increasingly common, according to Powerchex, which screened the contractors.

Explaining the growing trend, founder Alexandra Kelly said financial clients were keen to demonstrate best practice when vetting new and existing temporary IT staff.

Outsourcing such checks not only offers the client a potential cost or time saving, but also hands them the tools to detect “CV embellishments” and “outright fabrications.”

“A lot of IT contractors are being screened for the first time for qualifications”, she added. “A few were caught lying about degrees and other qualifications.

“In every case they lost their contracts, even though they had been with the client for a long time and they were screened as part of renegotiating an existing contract.”

In a downturn, or competitive jobs market, applicants often get frustrated from a lack of feedback, making it more likely they will lie to get ahead, explains Jenrick IT.

Length of contract, and sometimes responsibilities/achievements, is the typical section on a CV for contractors to manipulate, says managing director Philip Fanthom.

“The gaps in particular are gaining prevalence as contract candidates try to shorten periods of being without work,” agreed Kelly.

“My advice, is to not lie. Clients understand that times are tough and people are being made redundant, but they are ruthless with the lies.”

There is no single section on their CV which an agency, or screener, can look at to deduce if an IT contractor is bending the truth, said Xtra-IT.

Instead, the overall message of their CV is more telling, according to Estevao Pape, the firm’s contract IT recruitment manager for South Europe.

“IT consultants who want to make a better CV…try to put down everything their project involved and not only their part.

“IT contractors are specialised and can't do everything or have a good experience in everything” and, he hinted, shouldn’t use their CV to make claims to the contrary.

Fanthom reflected: “The problem with…'creative editing' is that [it] will be uncovered when the agent takes references and conducts security and financial checks, providing that the agent is doing their job properly.”

There were 3 different companies quoted in the article. One of whom was directly related to a story which is newsworthy to (lying) contractors

And still a lot more impartial than the BBC

[Honk]

Perhaps it is but I dont see why people should get jobs ahead of me just because they tell whoppers on their cv.

I've worked with people who claim to be ISEB certified when clearly they aren't. I've worked with people who said they knew QC inside and out yet I had to show them the basic stuff.

Today, I had a telephone call from an agent and one of the things they asked was I ISTQB \ ISEB certified as I state on my cv. Sure thing, I'll even take it to the interview to prove it.

People who lie on their cv to get jobs are cheats. One can only wonder what the rest of their work is like.

Hi,

First post, just thought I'd join up as you guys are pretty fun and know your stuff.

I'm in quality also, yup ISEB qualified and Mercury trained.
How are you finding the UK job market, is it miserable like it is here [Dublin]

Dave

[minestrone]

Disappointed that CUK puts this press release claptrap on here - probably because no-one else would pick it up

CUK is a business at the end of the day. With that they can write what they want as far as I am concerned.

[BolshieBastard]

This article on ContractorUK dressed up as news is nothing more than product placement for Powerchex.

Perhaps it is but I dont see why people should get jobs ahead of me just because they tell whoppers on their cv.

I've worked with people who claim to be ISEB certified when clearly they aren't. I've worked with people who said they knew QC inside and out yet I had to show them the basic stuff.

Today, I had a telephone call from an agent and one of the things they asked was I ISTQB \ ISEB certified as I state on my cv. Sure thing, I'll even take it to the interview to prove it.

People who lie on their cv to get jobs are cheats. One can only wonder what the rest of their work is like.

[Muttley08]

What a load of b0ll0cks...like the OP said - marketing rubbish to get their name out there - if you're doing your job, they aint gona spend money on checking staff they're happy with...

Disappointed that CUK puts this press release claptrap on here - probably because no-one else would pick it up

[BlackenedBiker]

A couple of question occured to me on reading the opinions in this thread:

1. If you hire someone and later find they have lied to you about qualifications, are you confident they aren't lying to you about anything else?
   
2. If you have an investment, perhaps a pension or an ISA, and it goes pear-shaped, and you find that the company is using unqualified people, would you be happy/don't care/be unhappy?

Question: If you are unhappy with a contractor you have in your employ for 6 months Do you:

A: Check their qualifications
B: Sack them
C: An antelope