Employment Background Check
Employment Background Check Procedures Are Vital For Pre Employment Screening
By Steve Gee
Don't Skip Pre-Employment Background Screening
Everyone knows that one of the secrets to long term success in any organization is hiring the right people for the right job. Your staff need to be able to do their job competently and at the same time, fit in with the people that they will be working with. Having a solid employment background check procedure to follow when screening job applicants can be a huge benefit to you during the pre employment process.
When you employ someone new I'm sure that you would like to think that this new addition will be an asset to your business for a long time to come. At the same time your applicant will be trying to impress you and convince you that they are the best candidate. Some applicants are so desperate that they will manipulate their resume to the point of downright lies. This practice is more common than you might imagine so it's surprising how often employers do poor screening checks or don't do them at all.
Ask the Job Seeker for Permission First
Get your applicant to sign a waiver prepared by your legal experts before you go looking for background information. The waiver should provide you with permission to access any personal information that you might need to process the application. The prospective employee should be aware that they are giving up their privacy in return for being considered for the job.
The Difference Between Reference and Background Checks
Many people are either confused about the difference between reference and background checks or they think that they are the same thing. They are not. A reference in this context is a person who has worked with your candidate sometime in the previous 7 years and who is prepared to talk to you about them. You need 3 references to get a good picture of the person.
When you do a background check on someone it is to confirm and validate any documents or information that they have given you and of course, to be sure they are not using an assumed identity. Also check for arrest warrants, criminal records and any other information that might be relevant.
Consider the following when you draw up your employment background check procedure.
Court Records
Checking with court records offices all over the country would be an impossible task as there is no official database of all records in one place. You can and should check with state and county court houses in and around all of the places that the applicant has lived or has worked in recent years. They might still have a criminal record or arrest warrants or other records elsewhere but at least you will have made a reasonable effort to find them.
Drivers License
You only need to do this if the employee is required to do any driving. If it does then take the license and check its validity by giving the issuing agency a call.
Credit Checks
If the job has got anything to do with money then you should do a credit check. For most posts that are not concerned with money or finance in any way then a credit check may be of not be worth doing.
Other Licences
It seems that the more respected is the profession, the less inclined employers are to check that licenses to operate in that profession are valid. It sounds incredible but it is possible to find yourself treated by an unlicensed employee simply because noone bothered to check that the license was current and valid.
Academic Achievements
Why is it that so many people lie about their academic qualifications and grades to get jobs? Could it be because it will probably work as hardly any employer checks them? Call the college or institution to make sure that the applicant did gain the qualifications that they say they did.
Use a Public Records Database to Get your Employment Background Checks Started
Most if not all the background and validation checks above can be performed easily by making a series of phone calls. It is however time consuming so why not start your employment background check procedure by searching an online public records database. This is a method of background checking that is super quick and could give you enough information to make a decision without picking up the phone or commissioning an expensive employment checking service.
February 5, 2011
11:52 pm
Only a criminal record will show up. The sentencing should not show up. If a a record (conviction) is found, It is public record and is available if searched for.
February 10, 2011
9:48 pm
The only thing they are allowed to verify is when you worked and where you worked. They can’t ask anything else. Not even if you are eligible for rehire.
February 13, 2011
11:34 pm
Will court ordered mental health services show up on a pre employment background check?
I need a job and I was wondering if my past court order to receive mental health services will show up on any background checks.
Would I be able to pass a bank’s pre employment background check?
February 20, 2011
4:29 am
All a former employer is allowed to tell someone that is inquiring about your employment with them is Yes she/he worked and the length of time and dates. They can’t get into to much detail.
March 1, 2011
8:10 pm
What shows on a employment background check?
I have a warrant for not paying my fines and now i have to take a pre employment background check in order to be hired. Will your education show up? Warrants? Work history? Its for Bestbuy warehouse
its a traffic violation that i needed to pay fines for
March 2, 2011
9:17 pm
How do I check my own employment background history accurately?
Normally all employers do employment background check of prospective employees. How do I check my own employment background history accurately so that I can find any errors and misleading information before I submit it to employer?
March 3, 2011
9:22 pm
You can call your previous employers to see if they have what you need. Most employers are only verifying that you worked there, and for the time you said you did.
The site I’m including may be helpful as well.
March 3, 2011
9:38 pm
What time of Information does the IRS check during employment background checks? How deep do they dig?
They are using the OPM for the background check? I was required to give employment infomation from 7 yrs back. My employment history is not perfect!
March 4, 2011
8:08 pm
How do I know what information will come up on a prior employment background check?
I’m interested in a job that says they do a prior employment background check. I need to know what info will come up for me. I have had quite a few jobs and don’t remember the exact start/end dates for all of them. I don’t want to put incorrect info on the job application and then have them disqualify me for the position because of incorrect dates. What can I do to get this info?