Which Background Checks Do I Need?

Which Background Checks Do I Need?

If you aren’t doing background checks during your hiring process, you are taking on risk for your company. The safety of your workforce, your clients and the company’s assets all depend on the honesty and integrity of your hires. In addition, verifying that an applicant has the educational qualifications, licensing, certifications and experience will ensure that they have the job competence you need.

The most common question that HR professionals ask when thinking about background screening is: “What should I include in my pre-employment background checks?” Finding a perfect-fit screening package for your company’s individual needs may require a custom plan. However, there are some constants that will help ensure that only the best applicants are considered for employment.

Identity verification

Identifiers like name, date of birth, and social security number are used to locate and verify all records. Your candidate’s identity must be validated before you can be certain that a comprehensive search can be conducted. Identity is verified 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, we recommended that you run a nationwide search. Also include an in-person search of the court records in the counties where the applicant has recently resided.

Drug screening

It’s tempting to cut corners on drug screening.  For any position where the candidate will have access to company finances, employee files, or using/driving company equipment and vehicles, we strongly recommend drug screening. A drug screening helps minimize potential threats to company assets before any damage is done. Establish your drug free workplace policies up-front with pre-employment drug tests.

Employment verification check

Previous employment history is the most commonly used factor in determining a candidate’s capabilities. Calling all previous employers to ask key questions helps avoid the pitfall of finding out later the candidate is not qualified. Rely on your background check company to get results much faster than trying to do employment verifications in-house. 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. Whether you need basic background checks or a custom package designed specifically for your needs, using a CRA (Consumer Reporting Agency) that follows FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Act) regulations helps your company stay in compliance.

Use a professional CRA for your background checks