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Why do Background Checks
Why do Background Checks?
Let us explain why performing background checks are so important!
Are you aware that during the recruitment process, 78% of job applicants are willing to be dishonest, twist the truth, or conceal vital details?
Even the candid ones often fail to disclose prior negative workplace behavior, issues with substance misuse, and any other unsuitable conduct that could clash with your company’s principles.
Therefore, to avoid regretting your hiring decisions, like 74% of employers do, you should consider combining interviews with thorough pre-employment background investigations.
What is a pre-employment Background check
A pre-employment background check is a tool for hiring professionals to authenticate an applicant’s personal, academic, and career qualifications, assessing their suitability and security for employment.
This process generally encompasses the confirmation of educational qualifications and past employment, conducting identity and credit assessments, reviewing criminal histories, performing drug tests, internet screenings, among other techniques.
In the context of the US, for example, the depth of background checks is subject to the permissible extent in various states. Employers commonly seek a seven-year record, a duration compliant with the majority of US state laws, though some states permit data reporting for a span of up to ten years.
The duration of a background verification process can vary, ranging from 24-48 hours to multiple days, based on the complexity of the requisites. It’s advisable to avoid background screening services promising immediate findings because their scope is often restricted to Google searches and social media reviews, bypassing the fact that some of the most vital background details are not accessible via the internet.
Integrating Backgrounds checks into the hiring process
Background checks are an important part of the recruitment process, not just for verifying a candidate’s qualifications and work history, but also for determining their fit with your company’s culture and values.
This significance is reflected in the fact that in the U.S., 95% of employers perform some form of pre-employment screening, with 76% maintaining a formalized background screening strategy, as revealed by research from the HR Research Institute.
Google, Meta, and IBM all have applicant privacy policies that outline their employee verification practices, which include third-party background checks.
Keep in mind, while conducting pre-employment background checks, you need to comply with all the relevant screening laws to avoid an applicant accusing you of discrimination for not getting hired.
This is why it’s imperative that you use an employment background screening provider that complies with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), such as Western Verify.
