The Risk of Résumé Fraud Is Real
Has a job candidate ever “padded” their résumé in hopes of landing a position with your company? It's more common than you may think.
Some job candidates lie to get hired. A survey from ResumeLab found that 7 in 10 workers admitted to lying on a résumé. That’s a problem. When a business hires someone based on false education credentials, it puts everything at risk. If there’s an incident, the company could face legal trouble. And if the lie is found out later, there’s the cost of replacing the hire, and the hit to your reputation.
Why the Education Section Deserves Scrutiny
One area that commonly gets an extra dose of padding on resumes is the education history section. They might list a degree they never earned. Or say they graduated when they didn’t. Sometimes they claim to have attended a school that doesn’t exist.
That’s why verifying education matters. It’s a simple check that can prevent serious problems later.
A background check that skips this step opens the door to hiring someone who isn’t qualified. If the lie is discovered after hiring, it can damage your reputation. And replacing that person means more time, money, and risk.
Education background checks aren’t about catching people out. They’re about protecting your team and your business from unnecessary mistakes.
How Do Employers Verify Education History During the Summer?
Verifying education during summer isn’t always simple. Schools don’t stop existing when summer starts, but verifying education gets harder.
Some educational institutions and districts have staff working year-round. Others don’t. That makes it difficult for employers to confirm what a candidate claims about their education history.
KRESS knows how to work around this. We contact schools directly and use every method available to get the information you need. If a record can’t be confirmed, we’ll tell you that fast, and explain why.
You’re never left wondering. You get answers, or you get a reason.
What a Thorough Education Background Check Involves
A complete check looks at more than just whether a school exists. KRESS verifies that the candidate really went there, that the school is legitimate, and that the degree matches what’s on the résumé.
We confirm:
- The name and accreditation of the institution
- Dates the candidate attended
- Whether they completed the coursework
- What degree, if any, was awarded
We will provide a clear, detailed report you can use to compare what the applicant claims with what they have actually achieved. If you find any discrepancies, the report will help you determine if this is a deal breaker or a minor issue.
Tools to Help
ResumeMatch Finds What Other Checks Miss
Even when education is verified, something important can still slip past: the résumé itself.
Most background checks only look at the information the candidate provides at the time of screening. But that’s not always the same as what they put on their résumé. Candidates know this, and sometimes take advantage of it.
ResumeMatch fixes that. It compares the original résumé with the verified background check data. If something doesn’t match, it flags it.
That includes:
- Different job titles
- Changed dates of employment or education
- Roles or degrees that don’t line up
This saves time for your HR team and makes sure you’re hiring based on facts, not assumptions.
DocuProof Cuts Costs Without Cutting Corners
Traditional education background checks often go through third-party services. These can cost $60 to $140 per check and can sometimes slow down the hiring process.
DocuProof is KRESS’s alternative. It lets job applicants upload their own documents, like diplomas or transcripts, through a secure link. Then KRESS verifies them.
This method:
- Avoids third-party fees
- Delivers 80% of verifications within 24 to 48 hours
- Keeps your process compliant without extra overhead
It’s fast, secure, and reliable. And it gives employers more control over cost and timing, especially helpful when schools are closed or slow to respond.
Stay on Track, Even When Schools Are Closed
Hiring doesn’t stop in the summer. And with the right tools, education verification doesn’t have to either.
KRESS gives you more than one way to confirm a candidate's entire education history. Whether it’s through direct school contact, secure document uploads with DocuProof, or résumé comparison with ResumeMatch, we help you make smart hiring decisions, quickly and with confidence.
If your team needs fast, accurate education background checks, get in touch. We’ll help you keep your hiring process moving.