5 Tips for Conducting an Employee Background Check
An employee background check is one of the best ways you have to ensure that a potential hire is of good character and has good judgment.
By checking your candidate’s criminal history, traffic violations, and other relevant court cases, rest guaranteed that they are the right fit for your company.
Have you taken a new job or are you about to hire someone for your small business employee?
Conducting a background check helps you ensure that you’re hiring a trustworthy individual.
Plus, you can help ensure your safety and the safety of your fellow employees.
However, not everyone has the skills necessary to search for someone’s past. Many people haven’t even heard of a background check.
Don’t worry, we’ll help you out. This article covers everything you should know about conducting a background check on your employees.
Keep reading to get the inside scoop.
1. The Basics
Conducting a check is an important step in ensuring the safety of your workplace.
Be clear about what you’re looking for. What kind of information are you hoping to learn about your potential employees? Make sure you have a good idea of what you’re looking for before you start your search.
Use a reputable background check service. There are many companies that offer background checks, but not all of them are created equal.
Be thorough. A background check should be just one part of your overall screening process. Make sure you talk to references, check social media, and do everything you can to get a well-rounded picture of your potential employees.
Be aware of the law. There are laws in place that dictate what you can and cannot include in a background check. Make sure you’re familiar with these laws before you start your search.
Keep it confidential. We should keep the information we learn during a background check confidently. Only share it with those who need to know.
You can also create a short video about your hiring needs as it attracts more professionals. Visit 1minutemedia.com.au as they offer video production for recruitment.
2. Who Should You Check?
The first step is to obtain a release from the prospective employee. This release should allow the employer to access criminal records, credit reports, and any other relevant information. The second step is to actually conduct the check. This can be done by searching online databases, contacting references, and/or using a professional service.
Once the background check is complete, the employer should review the results and make a decision. In some cases, further investigation may be warranted. The important thing is to use the information to make an informed decision about the prospective employee.
3. What Should You Check For?
One of the most essential aspects of any background check is criminal history. You should check, local, state, and national databases for any criminal record that the applicant may have. Be sure to check for any aliases that the applicant may have used in the past.
Another significant aspect of any background check is credit history. This can give you insights into an applicant’s financial responsibility and their ability to manage money.
Checking an applicant’s employment history is important to verify the information they have provided on their resume or application. This can also give you insights into an applicant’s work ethic and professional conduct.
Checking an applicant’s education history is significant to verify the information they have provided on their resume or application. This can also give you insights into an applicant’s level of educational attainment.
Checking personal references can give you insights into an applicant’s character. Be sure to check with references that know the applicant well, such as close friends or family members.
4. How Far Back Should You Go?
If you are considering running a background check on an employee, there are a few things to keep in mind.
First, it is essential to determine how far back you want to go. This will depend on the position and the company’s policies. Generally, you will want to go back at least seven years.
This will give you a good idea of an applicant’s past work history, criminal history, and credit history.
Next, you will need to gather some information from the applicant. This includes their full name, date of birth, and social security number. You will also need their current address and phone number. With this information, you will be able to run a basic background check.
If you want to go deeper, you may also request a copy of the applicant’s credit report. This will give you more information on their financial history. Finally, you can also request a criminal background check. Something mainly reserved this for positions that involve working with children or handling money.
By following these tips, you can ensure that you are getting the most information possible about an applicant. This will help you make the best hiring decision for your company. This will also lead to pre-employment checks on hiring.
5. Avoiding Discrimination
When conducting an employee background check, it is important to avoid discrimination.
Avoid using personal characteristics as criteria for screening candidates. For example, don’t screen out candidates based on their race, religion, or gender.
Develop objective criteria for screening candidates and apply those criteria consistently.
Be aware of the possibility of unconscious bias and make sure to check your own biases before making decisions about candidates.
If you use criminal background checks, make sure to consider the nature and severity of the offense, the time that has passed since the offense, and the relevance of the offense to the job.
Give all candidates a chance to explain any negative information about their background.
By following these tips, you can help ensure that your employee background check process is fair and unbiased.
Best Employee Background Checks
It is important to remember that an employee background check is just one tool in the hiring process. To get the most accurate picture of a prospective employee, be sure to use a variety of assessment methods.
In addition, always follow up with references to get more information about an applicant’s character and work ethic.
By taking these extra steps, you can ensure that you’re making the best hiring decision for your business.
Follow these tips above, but feel free to also read our blog for more background check tips.
