Serbian migrant who misled WorkSafe and the Transport Accident Commission by using fake university certifications has been jailed in Melbourne.

Having used his false university qualifications to register to work as a psychologist in NSW and Victoria, Dusan Milosevic was employed by WorkSafe and the Transport Accident Commission (TAC).

Milosevic was employed to counsel people injured in workplace accidents, and consequently treated 29 clients without having any qualifications to do so.

Despite Milosevic being ordered to repay over $35,000 to WorkSafe and the TAC, the victory was a bittersweet outcome and the result of a three year effort to prosecute the man.

The case has served as a reminder to employers that meticulous background and reference checks remain of the utmost importance.

Extrastaff managing director Declan Rowan told CareerOne that while it is rare for applicants to completely fabricate a resume; around 60% of resumes contain "inaccuracies".

Rowan said it is important to recognise that most applicants are looking to 'step up' from their previous jobs, and in some cases people will want to give the impression that their previous role was more complex and high-level than it really was.

McArthur state manager Matthew Hobby said he has noticed many employers now advertising roles as 'temporary, with the possibility for permanency', as a way of testing the skills set of an employee before making a binding commitment.

A recent survey from finance recruitment group Robert Half revealed 61% of professionals in finance, accounting and HR had realised candidates were exaggerating their job histories during interviews.

The survey results indicated five key questions to ask during interviews, as recommended by employers, recruiters and HR professionals, namely:

1. "Tell me about your work history"

Employers should be vigilant about work history on CVs, and should identify any gaps in work histories and seek a reasonable explanation.

2. "Why did you leave your last job?"

Often a candidate will answer "I want a change", but this is often not the only reason.

3. "Tell me about a time when you... (Ask for a specific example of a previous task)"

Look for a response which gives specifics, the actions taken and the end result. One could ask the candidate, "tell me about a time when you have done x, y, z".

4. "What were you paid at your last job?"

The Robert Half survey also revealed more than 52% said candidates asked for "unrealistic" pay packages.

5. "What have you left off your resume?"

Ask open questions and see if you can identify gaps in their resume. Use the interview as an opportunity to expand on what a candidate has written.

Source: Human Capital Source