Background Checks for Employment – What You Need to Know

Employment background checks

An employment background check is a great way to protect your business, as well as the people who work for you. A skilled worker will provide a positive working experience for customers and colleagues alike, but it can be difficult to tell if someone is right for the job until they start working with you.

After all, no matter how much experience they have in their field or how good of an interview they did, there's no substitute for actually seeing someone on-site at your business interacting with others—and even then it may not be enough evidence to judge them by.

A background check can help you make sure that each employee has been thoroughly vetted:

• Have they had any previous instances where their employment was terminated (or did they resign)?
• Are there any criminal charges pending against them?
• Are there any civil lawsuits filed against them?

All these questions should be answered before hiring anyone new; otherwise, there could be serious repercussions down the line.

Education and qualifications

Education and qualifications are often a part of a job application. An employer should check the candidate's qualifications to see if they are suitable for the position, up to date, and relevant. They should also ensure that these credentials are genuine.

• Are the candidates being honest about their qualifications?
• Are they claiming to have a qualification that they do not in fact have?
• Have they exaggerated their qualifications on the application form?

In order for employers to determine which applicants will be the most qualified for a position, they should ensure that the applicant's qualifications and previous work history align with what is required in the position.

These credentials should also be verified to ensure that they are up-to-date, real, and applicable to the position.

Criminal records check

A criminal records check is a search of criminal records to determine if an individual has a conviction for a crime that could affect their suitability for employment.

The results of a criminal records check may be used to make an adverse decision about hiring or continued employment, or as part of an investigation into the potential commission of an offense.

The accuracy and completeness of the information contained in these databases may not be complete, updated, or accurate at all times. Therefore, you should confirm the status of any person with whom you intend to do business directly with the appropriate law enforcement agency.

Credit checks

Credit checks are a good way to find out if someone has a history of fraud. They can be done online and by a private investigator. A credit check consists of reviewing a person’s credit file and history.

This includes any information about delinquencies, bankruptcies, judgments, repossessions, and liens.

Credit checks can also include a review of both public records and private reports that have been purchased from companies that specialize in collecting information for creditors.

Social media checks

Social media is an important tool for employers to use when conducting background checks.

If you’re going to check social media, do it during the application process. You can also ask for consent when offering them a job as part of the onboarding process and include it in your handbook or employee contract.

This way, you avoid any potential legal problems based on what you find.

In addition to checking for red flags like drug use or violence (see below), look for disqualifiers such as:

• References to physical health issues that may impact their ability to perform the duties of their job (e.g., someone with diabetes has recently had surgery).
• References that showcase biases toward certain groups of people (e.g., using slurs against Asians or LGBTQ persons), could be grounds for dismissal in some states depending on whether those biases are relevant to their work environment.

What to include in your employment background check

Once you've decided to run a background check, what should you include in it?

• Education history. This includes high school and college transcripts, degrees, diplomas, and certificates of any kind. If a candidate claims to have graduated from Harvard University with a degree in economics, it's important that they can prove it before they're hired.
• Employment history. Be sure to include information about the dates worked at each job as well as titles held and responsibilities assumed during employment. For example: "Candidate worked as an apprentice at ABC Company from September 2013 through August 2014."
• A list of references who have personal knowledge of the candidate's work habits and abilities. Informal references who can attest to the candidate's character, integrity, and ability to work with others; and professional references who have personal knowledge of the candidate's work habits and abilities.

Conclusion

We hope you find our guide useful in helping you decide what type of employment background check is best for your business.

When you hire a new employee, it's your responsibility to make sure that they're the right fit for your company. A background check can help you feel more confident about your decision, and it will help protect your company from potentially harmful situations.

If you're looking for help with a background check, Apex Investigation Solutions is here to assist you. We provide comprehensive private investigations and offer our clients peace of mind when hiring new employees.