Friday, December 26, 2008

"Fake" Resume



While adding new people to the board, I have come across many fake CV’s and people often ask me how did I find out they are faked one’s. There isn’t any pre-determined logic to implement. It is as simple as when someone tries to falsify their credentials, they are not as confident as they are with the truth.

Now let’s see some of the

1) Possible scenarios where people like to fake them on CV

2) Detailed Checklist to be used while screening.

Possible Scenarios

Arrears in College degree and pro-longed duration to complete them.

This can identified by the pass out year in the school, under graduation and post graduation. Each degree has certain specified time period to complete and if you find something different, probably you need to check with them.

Irrelevant work experience which is being combined as relevant

For example Overall 6 years of experience out of which 2 years as a lab assistant and 2 years as a faculty in some training institute and 2 years of programmer experience. Now the lab assistant and faculty experience is also faked as programming experience so that they try to apply for a Lead level programmer when they actually have level 2 programmers.

There was one guy who worked in my team was about to get a promotion and also fly to US for more training. During his visa application, he mentioned a totally different work experience history in his DS 157 form. I got little suspicious and tried to enquire more about those details and after several rounds of grilling; he accepted that he forged his CV. His promotion and trip was cancelled and he was placed on observation period for 3 months. Guess what – he resigned within a month.

Distance education degrees but projected as regular ones.

This happens most of the time in the post graduation; you will see an overlapping work experience with the academia experience.

I came across a candidate who has done Diploma regular degree and then a UG course through correspondence. But he was open and frank to let me know that it was a distance education. He also sounded confident that he has been able to rise up to this level with his own efforts by working part time. He was technically strong as well. I don’t see any possible reason why I shouldn’t hire him. Yes he was selected.

I am also aware that there are a number of consultant organizations which give fake experience certificates, pay slips for money. It is better to avoid such institutes and try with your genuine experience.

Now as such there are'nt any standard checklist, but this is something that I share out of experience (the so called "managerror experience" :D)

Checklist to be used while screening

1. When you check the experience level, check for relevant experience and also see the duration between joining month of the first job and last month of the current month (see people might have resigned recently). Also check for employement gaps in between

2. Check the academic pass out years for each degree and higher secondary school

3. What is the minimum duration that a person has served in a job position? It is better not to hire frequent job hoppers. There is no guarantee that the person will serve a minimal expected duration but still this data helps to know people's mentalit y about job shift.

4. Is there any specific certification that the candidate boasts about? if so test his knowledge to determine whether it is a genuine experience based certification or a test dump based certification. It is better not to clear any certifications just for the name sake using dumps.

5. Check for relevant roles and responsiblities in the past experience projects. A programmer cannot just have coding/programming as a responsibilities. A senior level programmer should have been involved in design reviews, code reviews, validation support, bugs co-ordination etc..

6. Check the languages and packages relevancy in the projects worked on. Some people like to list out a long list of tools and packages that they studied during college days or attended some 2 day training camp. The actual proficiency is with the tools and packages that you use everyday.

(I have trained a SQL certified person on how to work with enterprise manager - It is really a pitiful situation for you to claim that you are certified/proficient but never know any nuances of the tool)

7. Any gaps in job history must be justified with appropriate reasons. It is better to avoid peoples who state reasons like family problem, personal problem. I mean you have to quit a job for a reason like this then you are no good in balancing work-life relationship.

8. Some people write a resume that matches exactly to the job requirement. Usually from the internal referrals :-) nothing to worry but you must be assured that the candidate has the potential for doing all that he/she has mentioned in the resume.
9. Trust your instincts :D If you feel something is not right, it may not set right later.
Alright here is some intresting link that you may like. I was surprised to see there is a website addressing the similar issues about fake resumes and has got even more informations about them :-)


Final word to those who fakes the resumes

Do not spend your initial days loitering around for “better” opportunities and later get into all trouble.
Be proud for all that you have worked in past even though it might sound less challenging.
If you are caught please accept the truth dont try to act "over smart" it actually irritates the other person a lot.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

2008 - A quick review





It is almost the end of the year :-) opees ellam ipove kaaliyaa irukku... naanum vettiya irukken... probably you must have notice that I have created another blog managerror ... athu vera onnum illa... postkaraar... paalkaraar...pookarar mathiri managerror :P




seri 2008 laa enna enna vishayam ellam nadanthuchu apdinu naa poda porathu illa "BULB"




2008 Nandoovuku epdi irunthuchu.... apdindratha pathi konjam mokka poda poren... i know it is boring... but enna panrathu ennakum konjam time pass aganumla...




1. Blog ulagai porutha varaikum... nandoo was very passive... 2008 la onnum persa postae podala.... some photos and avalo thaan... but started another three blogs so far. (diversipication)








..athuvum activity konjam koranjidichi.... hoping to post more articles in the coming year on all the blog's




2. Movies --- yes neraya padam paathen ... intha varusuham... mattum koranjaithu oru 50 padam paathu iruppen... 50 enna periya countaa nu kekreengala... all 50 great movies to watch (vera onnu illa Sat kooda serntha effect)




Movie list watched in 2008
Das Leben der Anderen (2006) (Lives of Others)
The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
Umberto D. (1952)
Before Sunset (2004)
The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
Buono, il brutto, il cattivo., Il (1966)
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
Catch Me If You Can (2002)
Chocolat (2000)
Cidade de Deus (2002) (City of God)
The Dark Knight (2008)
Doctor Zhivago (1965)
Ladri di biciclette (1948) (BiCycle Thieves)
Meet the Parents (2000)
Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)
Munich (2005)
Shichinin no samurai (1954)
The Shining
Apocalypto
Italian Job
Roshamon
Amores perros (2000) (Love is a Bitch)
Laberinto del fauno, El (2006) (Pan's Labyrinth)
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Music and Lyrics (2007)
Ratatouille (2007)
Se7en (1995)
Last of the mohicans
Juno
Knights Tale
No Country for Old Men
Cloverfield
The Constant Gardener (2005)
The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain, Le (2001) (Amelie)
Horton Hears a Who! (2008)
No Country for Old Men (2007)
Phone Booth (2002)
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
The Prestige (2006)
Some Like It Hot (1959)
The Untouchables (1987)
Oceans Eleven
Bourne Identity (2003)
There will be blood (2008)
Taxi
Kungfu Panda (2008)
Wanted (2008)
Iron Man (2008)
Michael Clayton (2008)




3. Travel - Yegapatta edathuku travel panniyaachu... yelagiri, nagercoil, yercaud, valpaarai, outskirts of coimbatore, thanjavur - tiruchi belt ipdi pala idangala suthi paarthachu...


for more details check footloose.



4. Kalyanthukaaga kastapattu koraicha weight (ahem ahem) marupudiyum double madanga serthu yethiyaachu... crossed 90 (periya saathanai)



5. Gadgets - Added Blackberry, PS -III , Treadmill, Bluetooth PLT-500 to my gadget list.. ithula blackberry thavara vera yethuvum ippo use panrathu illa...


Reached a high score of 8800 level 16 in the brick breaker game (I can see Sat growling now)



6. Garderning - Something new that I have started doing (ithuvum Sat effect thaan :P) but developed more intrest now....
If you want to see some rare plants like Andhi Mantharai, Govarthana Malli, Sitharathhai, Vethalai kodi etc... come to my house



Memorable Moments

Vaalparai Trip

First time Stadium Cricket Experience

145 Km on Chennai Bangalore Highway

Friends veetu (Aashriya) Grehaprevesham

Pragati (akka ponnu) piranthanaal

Valentine's Day Dinner

MRTS Payanam

Yelagir Trip and Swami malai Trekking (aiyo aala vitrunga saami)

Vellayangiri

Yercaud Drive listening to Varanam aayiram songs

SMILE 4th Anniversary

Tiramisu and Molten Jivara @ Ecstacy

Thiruvanmiyur Beach
Paprika :-) and the sweet surprise



My Favourite Song of the year 2008

Anul Mela pani thuli pol - Varanam Aayiram

Kangal Irandal - Subramaniyapuram

Mukunda Mukunda - Dasaavatharam




My Favourite Movie of the year 2008


Saroja

Subramaniyapuram

Dark Knight




P.S: Yet to watch the recent ones.




Jump Analysis


Changing jobs is often a tough decision to make and it becomes even tougher when you have multiple offers in hand. There should be some strong reason why you would want to quit from your current employer. However the very astounding reason that everyone quotes for moving to a new job is just because of the salary. Yes money is important but money alone is not the deciding factor there are many parameters that should decide your job hop and certain things come to light only after you land up in the wrong terrain.

So I have come up with a jump analysis sheet, where you would list down your priorities about your job marked against your current and prospective employers.

Then rate them with below legend and finally sum up the results to see where your career stands. You can also add more weightage for some key factors like reporting structure, salary, growth as compared to low priorities like dress code, cafeteria However just keep in mind dress code, cafeteria, commutation might sound very low priorities but they will affect your day to day routine.
Even though this exercise will help you to make a well informed decision, you must be aware of the pro’s and con’s of the decision that you make and be content with your choice

Such a detailed analysis will help you to make better informed decisions.

P.S: I think this is posted during the wrong time of the year when there is layoff and job cuts happening everywhere, but I still believe India should be doing well for atleast in next two quarters till Q2 09. Have a safe jump.


Thursday, December 11, 2008

Management Doubts - Clarified?


There are hundreds and thousands of management and self help books available in the market, but there are still lot of the questions like (how is my year end salary calculated) remain unanswered - Why?


When young, vibrant and aggressive performers are on board, why does the company look for experienced candidates for management?


People who crib about management eventually turn out of be the future managers and pretend not to hear all what they said before. Why?


Why does most of the performance reviews end in dissatisfaction?


This is Blog is NOT to answer all this questions... but I will be writing my thoughts on how I manage to manage things from my experience.... It is not a trial and error experience but definitely something you might be intrested to know.


It is all about people management right from recruitment to performance review ....

It is all about Strategic management on the "whats and ifs"

It is all about max ego per sqft (Senior Management meetings)

It is all about management of day to day errors and deviations....


Keep watching :-)