In today’s competitive business world, the success of your company largely depends on the quality of your workforce. Hiring the right candidates is crucial not only for achieving business goals, but also for ensuring a safe and productive work environment. One of the key tools at your disposal for making informed hiring decisions is employment screening. Let’s take a look at the significance of employment screening for companies, discussing how it can help in hiring the right candidates and mitigating various risks.
1. Identifying the Right Candidates
Skill Verification: Employment screening allows you to verify the qualifications and skills claimed by candidates in their resumes. This verification ensures that you are hiring individuals with the necessary expertise to excel in their roles. A recent survey by LinkedIn showed 72% of people have lied on their resumes with 44% of respondents said they have “stretched the truth” regarding their education. Years of experience, skills, length of a previous position and former job responsibilities followed as the most-common lies. Misrepresentation of qualifications can be detrimental to your business, as it may lead to underperformance and costly hiring mistakes.
Background Checks: By conducting background checks, you can uncover a candidate’s history, including past employment, criminal record, and credit history. This information is essential for making well-informed hiring decisions and avoiding potential liabilities.
Reference Checks: Contacting a candidate’s references helps you gain insights into their work ethic, attitude, and previous performance. It also provides an opportunity to assess if the candidate is a good fit for your company culture.
2. Mitigating Risks
Reducing Turnover: High employee turnover can be costly and disruptive. Employment screening helps you identify candidates who are not only qualified for the job but also a good fit for your organization. This reduces the likelihood of early turnover, saving your company time and resources.
Ensuring Workplace Safety: A comprehensive employment screening process, including criminal background checks, helps ensure the safety of your employees and customers. It can prevent potentially harmful individuals from entering your workforce. In a National Conference of State Legislatures study, nearly one-third of the adult working age population has a criminal record.
Protecting Your Reputation: Hiring individuals with a history of unethical or illegal behavior can tarnish your company’s reputation. Employment screening helps you avoid such hires, protecting your brand image and integrity.
Compliance with Regulations: Depending on your industry, you may be subject to specific regulations regarding background checks and employee screening. Failing to comply with these regulations can lead to legal consequences. An effective employment screening process ensures you adhere to all relevant laws and regulations.
3. Increasing Employee Productivity
Skill Match: Hiring employees with the right skills and qualifications increases their productivity from day one. They require less training and can contribute to the success of your business immediately.
Cultural Fit: Candidates who align with your company’s culture are more likely to be motivated and engaged in their work. This positively impacts their productivity and their ability to collaborate with colleagues.
Lowering Distractions: A thorough background check can help identify potential issues that may lead to distractions, such as unresolved legal matters or financial problems. Addressing these issues during the hiring process can minimize future distractions.
Employment screening is a valuable tool for businesses of all sizes. It helps in hiring the right candidates, reducing risks, and ultimately increasing the productivity and success of your organization. A well-planned employment screening process should be an integral part of your company’s hiring strategy, ensuring that you attract and retain top talent while safeguarding your company from potential pitfalls. By investing in employment screening, you invest in the future success and security of your business.
Posted by Justin Leavitt
Justin is the Co-Founder and CFO of Western Verify, and spends his free time traveling with his family and trying his best to golf.