Bangalore: Human resource heads of corporates and headhunting agencies are doing more than vetting CVs; they are also carrying out "lifestyle checks" of those being hired, especially at senior levels.

"Personal habits can tell on job performance and on the employee's integrity. When, say a vice-president is being taken on board with a salary package of Rs. 10 lakhs to Rs. 15 lakhs, the organisation wants to make sure his lifestyle will not affect the company in any way," says Kris Lakshmikanth, founder-chairman of The Head Hunters India Pvt Ltd.

"Wine, relations with the opposite sex and gambling are considered important factors. Companies also hire agencies to carry out credit card checks to assess a person's spending and credit rating," he says.

A potential recruit spending heavily in bars and pubs could mean, he may spend more time there than at his desk.

A habitual gambler may risk the company's money if he has access to it. And a man with a weakness for women may spend more time on those pursuits than at work. Regular race-goers are considered a risk. The more they lose, the more they get obsessed with gambling and neglect work. "There are some HT heads who are willing to risk one or two wrong claims on a CV if the employee is found good otherwise but those with a character weakness may not be tolerated because even the company's reputation may be at stake," says Mr. Lakshmikanth. Many mid-level staff are also put through such lifestyle checks before they are promoted.

`Vetting'

As for "vetting" CVs, it is routine for HR heads who are into "bulk hiring" of freshers with three years or less of work experience. School and college records are easily verified as are references.

Checking out those with more than three or four years' experience is considered a bit tricky, especially in case of persons between jobs.

Short-term stints are often not mentioned and exaggerated claims about involvement in major projects are common. Fake letterheads are frequently used.

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