by Dave Katzenmeyer, President, Genesis Background Screening Services
The one basic question that most HR professionals ask when thinking about background screening is: “What should I include in my pre-employment background check?” Finding a perfect-fit screening package for your company’s individual needs may require a custom plan, but there are some constants that will help ensure that only the best applicants are considered for employment.
Identity Verification: Because identifiers like name, date of birth, and social security number are used to locate and verify all records, your candidate’s identity needs to be validated before you can be certain that a comprehensive search can been conducted. You can verify identity by pulling address history records, running a DMV records search, or by directly confirming the candidate’s info with the Social Security Administration.
Criminal Records Check: There are over 3,000 individual counties in the entire United States. While many of these counties report to a database of some sort, there are a few exceptions. In order to be thorough, it is recommended that you run a nationwide search and also include an in-person search of the court records in the counties where the applicant has recently resided.
Drug Screening: While many employers choose to forgo this option, it is strongly recommended for any position where the candidate will have access to company money, employee files, or company equipment. A drug screening can help eliminate a potential threat to company assets before any damage is done. Establish your drug free workplace policies up-front with pre-employment drug tests.
Employment Verification: Previous employment history is the most commonly used factor in determining a candidate’s capabilities. Calling all previous employers to ask key questions can help avoid the pitfall of later finding out that the candidate is not qualified for the job. By relying on your background check company, you can often get results much faster than trying to do employment verifications in-house with your own staff. You can also get better, impartial responses from employers to reduce the risk of bias contributing to a hiring decision.
You can make a more informed decision with accurate background reports that give you a clear picture of your candidate. Pre-employment background screening is the best way to mitigate hiring risk and stay within regulatory compliance. To find out more, you can visit Genesis Background Screening Services at www.genesisbackgroundscreening.com or call 866.944.0041 ext. 103 to schedule your free consultation.
