Impostors who impersonate other people, politicians who continually lie shamelessly, CEOs, executives and employees who do whatever it takes to stay in their jobs, whatever the cost, thinking only of their own interests and not in the interests of their teams and the company, fake news that spread like wildfire through social networks, whose main objective is to misinform and manipulate public opinion... We live in an environment in which values are increasingly conspicuous by their absence.This is not exactly the best example for future generations to follow. From that dust has come this mud.
The truth is that not everything is good enough to achieve our goals. It has always been vital to look after one's reputation, both as an individual and as a business, as it is an indicator of the degree of integrity that a professional or an organisation has maintained in the past and to date, but it will be of little use if skills and competencies are not up to scratch.
Talent selection is not exempt from all of the above. CVs have been riddled with little lies practically as long as the modern labour market has existed. Inflated by claiming university degrees or postgraduate programmes that they have not taken or did not complete, exaggerated qualifications, candidates who unashamedly claim to be bilingual or multilingual, achievements that they take on as their own when they did not lead them, unrealistic pay, unclear dates for staying with the company, and unclear reasons for career changes. But why do they do it? There are many reasons: to impress others, out of desperation to find a job or get a better position when they do not meet the requirements of the position, and so on.
At first, we may think that inflating our CV may help us and give us a clear advantage over other candidates. But the truth is that this may be the very thing that will make us fail to get the job and, worst of all, "get a cross", which is not at all convenient. It is always good to be honest and to answer the interviewer's questions naturally.
That is why it is essential for recruiters to verify information. Starting with a professional interview, taking references and analysing the digital footprint helps to minimise the risk of making the wrong decision. Professional life is a long-distance race that we must develop with vision, clear objectives, emotional balance, enthusiasm and effort.
That is the path that will lead us to achieve our goals successfully without resorting to lies that we know have short legs. Let us therefore recover the passion for learning and the taste for education and culture, the love for work well done and its contribution to the common good and to society.
Carlos Recarte
Founding Partner of Recarte & Fontenla Executive Search