The Ultimate Guide to Streamlining Your Background Check Procedure

The goal of the background check process is to learn about a candidate’s prior employment history, criminal history, academic achievements, and residential proof. It takes time and effort to hire and onboard a candidate. Performing a comprehensive background check is also an important part of this.

Since everyone is keeping an eye on and managing staff remotely, it is crucial for businesses to screen their personnel now more than ever.

Background Check: Steps by Steps Procedure

The HR department may work with background check firms to assess the reliability of a candidate’s profile.

Typically, the procedure takes three to ten days. In exceptional circumstances or when in doubt, a specific organization may request a thorough review of your past (mostly done for senior-level hires). There are approximately 6 essential steps in the process:

1. Checking identity

Identity verification serves to confirm a person’s identity. It is described as an individual’s own set of qualities and attributes. Considering remote employment and a digital workplace, identity theft is more widespread than we might realize.

2. Check court records

Court record checks are carried out before hiring a candidate as part of the thorough background investigation. Checks of the candidate’s court records, if any, show their legal background.

3. Check the Police Record

Another important verification method that many employers choose is a police record check. The police record check provides the employer with insightful information about a candidate and is not limited to simply criminal records because it has access to municipal, provincial, and national databases.

4. Proof of education

Education is one of the most crucial factors in recruiting a new employee. Additionally, academic verification is required as part of background checks due to the rise in fraud.

5. Confirmation of address

Address verification is carried out to see if the applicant truly resides at the specified address and is a citizen of the nation. When used properly, it is a powerful instrument for reducing fraud and safeguarding the business from any mistakes.

6. Checking employment

In fact, the pre-employment screening procedure is a part of the employment verification process, which is not a standalone step. Examining the candidate’s reliability and suitability for the position is the very purpose for doing this.

Background Checks Are Important

A wealth of resources must be devoted to talent acquisition and management in order for your business to locate the best individuals not just for the job, but also for the workplace’s overall productivity.

But how can you be sure the applicant is who they say they are on their resume? The solution is straightforward: thoroughly investigate your potential hire’s background.

1. Talent recruitment

The correct hires affect a variety of variables. It first affects the company’s effectiveness. Additionally, it improves how the business is seen by outsiders.

2. Taking mitigation measures 

An employer is liable for an employee’s actions when the employer knew (or should have known) that the employee posed a risk. 

3. Occupational violence

Some of the numerous issues that threaten the professionalism and reputation of the organization include employee theft, aggression in the workplace, fraud, and forgery.

Major Challenges of Background Verification

The COVID-19 outbreak has drastically altered people’s lives, necessitating innovative strategies to address the issues and maintain public awareness. Every day presents an opportunity for businesses to act differently, improve their efficiency, and lower any potential margin of error.

1. Obstacles to Hiring: Many elements are suppressed in the Work From Home and remote hiring environments of today. It is challenging to evaluate an applicant’s reliability and authenticity with fewer face-to-face meetings, which makes it challenging to expedite the screening process, interview process, paperwork, etc.

2. Verification delays : It is exceedingly perilous for businesses to send out their CEOs for verification checks as it can raise their chances of getting the virus given the active role performed by the COVID-19 pandemic. An issue in the present is that so many individuals are moving about and staying in temporary residences.

3. Crime checks : Criminal background checks take a very long time for two key reasons. Both because there aren’t enough workers and because several sources have been shut down. These checks must be carried out as they are necessary to any screening method in order to safeguard the company’s security.

4. Education verification: Numerous businesses have been permanently closed as a result of the pandemic. This results in a lack of crucial data when examining a candidate’s career history.

5. Police clearance : Long wait times for police checks may cause candidates to miss out on chances. Lack of technological infrastructure or other logistical issues may be to blame for these delays.

How is Background Checking Carried Out?

Most of the time, employers call your former employer as the first step in the background check process. Details given during the process are compared to information.

Additionally, public databases (criminal records) are examined for any evidence of illicit behavior. Education data, including diplomas and certificates, are verified. Finally, businesses will confirm your address. The same includes a physical examination and a check of the candidate’s address.

Final Words

The business must understand that poor recruits can cost it more than the background check service. We offer background verification services that are seamless and adaptable and require little work from the employer and the employee. 

The current solution to the age-old issue of employee background checks being expensive, time-consuming, and unaffordable for small businesses is SunBD.