An essential part of the hiring process is running a background check. It includes verification of the applicant’s identity, county court searches, sex offender registry checks, credit reports, and reference checks.
Choosing the right provider can help you avoid bad hires and keep your workplace safe. To make the most of your background check experience, track these key metrics.
Comprehensive Background Checks
A background check is a thorough examination of a job candidate’s past. It uses third-party resources to dig into public records, law enforcement, credit bureaus, and academic and previous work histories.
Performing comprehensive background checks allows firms to find criminal records that might not show up on a standard search. It can also include standalone searches for sex offenders and civil court records.
Comprehensive checks can help firms verify information from resumes and applications. They can also verify aliases, which helps prevent mistakes and mix-ups with people who have similar names.
Flexibility
A good background check should include county criminal records searches, as well as searchable databases at the state and national levels. Some checks are even conducted globally (where available and allowed by law).
Look for background screening services that offer real-time reporting, which can help you quickly flag any red flags. It’s also helpful if the vendor has a streamlined onboarding process, making it easier to complete Form I9 and E-verify for new hires.
Reliability
Reliability is the consistency of a measurement over time and under different conditions. For example, a reliable medical thermometer will produce the same reading each time it is used; reliable math tests will accurately measure knowledge for each student who takes them; and reliable research findings will replicate over time.
Inter-rater reliability measures how well different raters agree on their test assessment, such as the degree to which an art portfolio meets specific standards. This type of reliability can be improved by clarifying instructions, lengthening the test, and formal psychometric analysis involving computation of item difficulties and item discrimination.
Compliance
The best background checks go beyond criminal history to reveal lawsuits, judgments, and other details that can question an applicant’s trustworthiness or employability. They also include verification checks that verify credentials, driving records, and drug screenings.
The company you work with should be familiar with compliance standards and regulations and other local ordinances that might restrict screening procedures. They should also be aware of the nuances of federal non-discrimination laws, which can affect screening results for certain groups of people.
You must obtain the applicant’s consent and be clear about what you will be searching for. This helps avoid confusion about what will be included in your search and how it might be used to make a hiring decision.
Experience
Background checks reveal criminal history and provide information on past misdemeanors, felonies, and incarceration. It’s a critical component for employers in making informed hiring decisions.
The type of report you seek and the speed at which your supplier can retrieve data sources will determine the caliber of the search results. Using software to collect information eliminates minor human errors and compiles reports in a more streamlined manner.
A reliable screening provider offers ongoing post-hire screening capabilities so you can monitor your employees regularly for any new information. This helps you avoid potential liability issues and upholds your organization’s integrity.
Pricing
Most employers conduct pre-employment background checks to verify information applicants provide on job applications and resumes. Criminal and civil background checks are the two most popular kinds. A criminal history check will outline a subject’s convictions, cases, and outcomes.
A civil record search is less comprehensive and will provide the subject’s social security number, date of birth, and previous addresses. This can help identify any prior lawsuits or financial issues that could affect their employment.
While there are many different types of background checks available, choosing the right partner can save a company time and money. The ideal screening partner will have experience developing a protocol that is industry-specific and can guide clients through the process of understanding report results.
Customer Service
The top background check service providers will provide top-notch customer support, including responding to any inquiries you might have regarding the procedure. They will also be available to help you customize your screening packages based on the roles your business is hiring for.
A good screening company will have multiple connections to fetch updated records from local county courthouses, state and upper courts, Departments of Corrections, sex offender databases, and other relevant sources. This way, you can be sure that the results are accurate.
They should also provide real-time reporting to give you up-to-the-minute results. Then, you can make the most informed hiring decisions for your business.
