Employment Background Verification
When applying for a job, many employers like to conduct background checks on each of their applicants to verify whether what has been written on their respective application letters and resumes are true.
While there are many background check service providers that make it easier for employers to administer this procedure, you do have the option to conduct this screening by yourself. This can help you generate firsthand information on these candidates, which, in return, can greatly influence your hiring decision. You may also see letter of verification exam.
Why Should I Run a Background Check?
First impressions are never a reliable source to begin with. A lot of people focus so hard on leaving a good impression that they often build a mask of who they really are just so others could like them. The same goes for job applicants looking to get accepted at a company they’ve been eyeing on for months, or perhaps even the last few years. You may also like signature verification letter examples.
As an employer, there’s nothing worse than hiring a candidate who you thought would be perfect for a job, only to find out that they’re the exact opposite of who they claim to be. Some job applicants go as far as changing their identity and background to impress potential employers that might be looking for a particular set of qualities from their applicants. You may also check out how to write a verification letter examples.
Although this form of lying or “stretching the truth” isn’t exactly illegal in the business setting, an applicant or employee is bound to face serious consequences if caught doing so.
Not only can an individual make a false statement about the skills that they possess, but they could possibly lie about their personal data, current residency, previous employment, and achievements. For the safety and security of everyone involved, having some type of assurance to support one’s claims will be beneficial in several ways. You might be interested in employee verification letter examples.
Hence, regulating an employment background verification may be necessary to assess the credibility of one’s statement.
To do so, here are few guidelines on how it should be performed:
1. Observe proper gathering of data.
You need to have a general policy regarding how these background checks may be administered by the authorized personnel. It’s best to have a flow chart that documents each step in the process to maintain consistency throughout each employment background verification conducted. This is important to ensure that every candidate is treated fairly throughout the procedure.
If you have any concerns that need to be addressed, especially when handling sensitive information such as medical and criminal records, then it might be best to check how the local laws treat these types of cases.
2. Give candidates a chance to clear up potential misunderstandings.
Information obtained during background checks can sometimes be incorrect or misinterpreted. There must have been data missing during the research process, or somebody must have supplied the wrong information. For this reason, you need to offer candidates the opportunity to rectify or explain a case that might cause problems with their application. You may also see verification letter examples.
Though there’s always the possibly of them lying again to clean their image, it’s important to give candidates the benefit of the doubt before jumping into any conclusions.
3. Know what information to collect.
There are a few things that you can and cannot do when running a background check of an existing or potential employee. As the person responsible for handing this type of information, it’s important to be aware of what you’re authorized to collect during these screenings. You may also like employment verification letter examples.
A basic background verification may include a criminal records check, a Social Security validation, an address history check, driving records, credit reports, professional license records, and state licensing records, just to name a few.
Background Check Information
The FCRA (The Fair Credit Reporting Act) sets the standards as to how an employment background verification must be delivered. If an employer wishes to run a credit check for employment-related purposes, then they must acquire a written employment verification letter first in order to authorize the act. In most states and countries, the information that you’re permitted to collect is considerably limited in order to protect one’s privacy.
Employment History Verification
Many employers conduct an employment history verification among potential candidates to see whether the employment details stated on their resumes and applications are accurate. This includes information regarding the companies you have previously worked for, your job titles, the dates of employment, and maybe even the salary earned at each of these jobs. You may also check out salary verification letter examples.
Prospective employers usually contact your former employers directly to determine whether the information you have provided are correct.
4. Be consistent with every candidate.
It’s important to apply the same background verification process to every candidate vying for a particular job position, regardless of their background or experience level.
Illegal discrimination, or having a sense of bias among candidates, can eventually cause legal consequences for you and your company. As a professional, it’s your responsibility to treat every single person equally despite how they look, act, or perceive to be. Keep in mind that first impressions aren’t always accurate. You might be interested in verification of employment letter examples.
A person wearing a suit to an interview may possess negative intentions as compared to the person dressing casually. If you want trustworthy individuals to join your workforce, then it’s best to start treating everyone fairly.
5. Avoid assumptions.
Sooner or later, employment screenings turn into an endless routine that some hiring managers fail to take seriously. Bear in mind that critical information can randomly come up during the most steps of the procedure, so if you fail to notice these red flags, the whole purpose of the background check would be a complete waste. You may also see income verification letter examples.
Also, you could be held accountable for any problems regarding one’s claims that could have been prevented during the initial stages of employment.
6. Ask for a candidate’s permission if necessary.
Before running a background check, you need to make sure that you’re authorized to do so. A written permission that covers your desire to hire an outside company to carry out the investigation, to obtain school transcripts, or to access detailed military records may be necessary to your purpose. You may also like background check form examples.
But if an employee or candidate denies your request to acquire these documents, then you do have the power to take the individual out of consideration for the specified position.
A bad hire can be a huge loss for a company. The amount of time and resources wasted on recruiting and training these individuals is not something that an employer can risk. This involves everything from the money spent on hiring, the damaged relationships with clients caused by poor work ethics, the amount of work that needs to be redone, and other factors that has hurt the productivity of your workforce as a whole. You may also check out employment application examples.
Thus, don’t rely solely on resumes and interviews to finalize your decision. Fight the odds of getting a bad hire through a properly handled employment background verification.
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