Comprehensive background checks can help you qualify candidates more accurately and improve the quality of your talent pool. They can also reduce liability situations and lower employee fraud.
Choose an FCRA-compliant provider or background check services that offers a mobile-optimized candidate experience and integrates with your ATS/HRIS software. Look for a user-friendly process that includes candidate consent, status updates, and full copies of results.
Background Checks
A background check is a search of public records that can include information such as an official name, birth date, addresses, civil litigation, criminal records, tax liens, judgments, bankruptcies, and whether a person is listed in the sex offender registry. A company usually runs background checks on behalf of an employer or landlord. Individuals may conduct their searches for free through various government websites.
When selecting a background check service, consider the turnaround time for results. Long waits can negatively affect your recruiting process and lead to missed opportunities. Choose a service that provides timely and accurate results so you can make informed hiring decisions.
Also, look for a customer support team available in multiple modes and can answer questions about the screening process, privacy regulations, and more. The right provider will also have technological capabilities such as ATS integrations, electronic consent forms, and a candidate portal that provides visibility into report status.
Criminal Record Checks
Criminal record checks help employers determine if a candidate has a history of crimes and convictions. They can be conducted by various methods depending on the position, industry, and other criteria. Some examples include a name-based search, an alias check, and an SSN trace.
A background check also may reveal a person’s civil records. These can include bankruptcy, divorce, or debt collection records, as well as some public records like liens and lawsuits.
Some states limit how far back a criminal background check can look. For example, in New York, a person’s record is only eligible for reporting to a prospective employer if it occurred within the last seven years. Other states have different time frames. Experienced CRA can quickly and efficiently navigate these laws when conducting criminal records searches. They can also work with courts to speed up a search when court records aren’t digitally available. This helps them comply with state, local, and federal ban-the-box and fair hiring laws.
Employment History Checks
Almost all employers conduct background checks to verify an applicant’s employment history, references, education, and qualifications. The results can help them make informed hiring decisions to reduce the risk of negligent hiring and other legal liability.
Moreover, comprehensive checks can uncover inconsistencies in a candidate’s work history, such as discrepancies in dates of employment or multiple aliases. Additionally, they can expose misrepresentations or omissions in an applicant’s resume and interview responses.
Depending on industry regulations, some organizations conduct more extensive background checks to assess applicants’ suitability for roles involving vulnerable people, such as volunteering with children or elderly individuals. Additionally, organizations that vet adoption and foster care applications often require criminal record checks. Look for a provider that offers comprehensive background checks with fast turnaround times to minimize time-to-hire. Also, select a partner with online experience to support your team’s day-to-day operations and allow you to access data easily.
Education Verification
As you consider candidates for open positions, you want to ensure they have the qualifications you’re looking for. A background check that includes education verification can help you make this determination.
Authenticate the degrees, honors, and professional certifications your candidates claim to have by checking directly with the school registrar’s offices or through a “clearinghouse” many schools use. Professional background screening companies also maintain a list of known diploma mills and alert you to any that appear during the verification process.
Hiring the right talent is important for your company’s reputation, profitability, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations, such as those that require checks for positions involving financial responsibilities. By partnering with an education verification service that’s fast and accurate, you can be confident your candidate has the qualifications you need to succeed.
