Choosing a candidate is always a tough task for hiring managers, how do you know you are shortlisting the correct person? How do you reduce the number of candidates to fit the job and not become a liability to the company in the future?

What makes the red flag list is subjective however every inconsistency on a candidate's CV should be cleared before beginning the hiring process. The CV of a candidate should be an accurate representation of themselves. Let's see a few tips on how to spot Red flags in a candidate's resume.

1. Significant Gaps

Spacing of over a year in a candidate's CV usually comes with a lot of question marks. After launching a career it is expected that there will be growth from one position to another. 

If there are spaces that occur that do not involve pursuing education, it is considered a red flag. Of course, some circumstances cause gaps like family emergencies and long-term illness, so if you like what you see in a candidate's CV but there are significant gaps be sure to bring them up in the interview.

2. Spell Check 

Nobody wants to go through a shambled-looking CV. The appearance of a CV is the representation of a candidate's application into representing themselves to their prospective employers. If a candidate can't apply themselves to creating a well-thought-out CV, how is it expected of them to apply themselves to the prospective job position?

It might seem so simple of a red flag however with all the technology that is available now to assist in making sure that any spelling or formatting issues are resolved, there should be fewer mistakes. 

3. Inconsistent Dates

Even though multitasking can be done there is a limit to how much can be juggled at the same time. When the dates for jobs overlap or there is a consistent overlap of dates between education dates and employment dates there needs to be extra questioning on the timeline of events.

For example in cases of education, there is a standard amount of years depending on the location, a Bachelor's degree depending on the area and course can take within 3 to 4 years to complete, same applies to a master's degree. If the candidate has a great CV however there are any inconsistent dates be sure to inquire for more information.

Of course, it doesn't go unsaid that a CV without any dates is a no-go.

4. Career Dip

Career growth is a major advantage especially if you are trying to hire a candidate for a managerial role. The candidate's progress needs to be a growing one, not a diminishing one. In cases where there has been a drastic change in the wrong direction, there can be several red flags associated with their change like demotions, lack of direction, and unsure career path.

The economy plays a big part in this particular situation so be sure to be considerate of this while looking through candidates, especially for roles that are at a managerial role.

5. Jumping from Job to Job

Jumping from one job to the next is never a good sign. Loyalty is essential to look for when hunting for candidates. You don’t want to fill a role for just one year and have to go through the process of looking for a new candidate all over again.

Switching careers is common especially earlier on when you are trying to find your bearings, but if a candidate has gone through four jobs for one year each it is not a very good sign. This inconsistency may mean that they are income-driven and at any moment would jump ship as long as the money is enough.

Keep your eyes wide open while looking through CV’s you never know what red flags you may run into. These tips should help smoothen your candidate's search for the right fit for the job.

Start your candidate search here: Employer Registration. Sign up and start your free month trial with the same features as the package selected. Check our Packages here:  Subscription Packages