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5 Things To Consider Before Running a Background Check

Dan Gavin | Uncategorized

5 Things To Consider Before Running a Background Check

Suppose you are trying to find the right candidate to fill a position. In that case, you know how important it is to have every piece of important information available to make an informed decision. As a business owner or manager, it is essential that you take care of the business and your staff.

A background check gives you an insight into someone’s life and provides important information you need to review to know more about that prospect, from criminal records to social media posts. The information on a background check varies depending on the company that conducts this search and how detailed you need the information to be.

It’s wise to hire a professional company because federal laws protect the right to display and access some information, and conducting the search incorrectly could lead to problems. Consider these five things before running a background check will give you information on essential details.

Inform the Applicant

Before running a background check, it is important that you let the applicant know about this. This type of search will display a lot of information for you to know all the relevant details from a prospect. However, you also want to let the person disclose any other details regarding that information or possible mistakes.

You are responsible for your decisions; a background check will tell you what you need to know but not if you should hire or not hire the candidate. An informed decision consists in having all the possible facts to decide whether someone is a good fit; even with past actions, a person might be the right candidate for a position.

Informing the applicant creates an opportunity for honesty, communication, and the beginnings of your potential working relationship. Giving them a chance to talk about their life and possible errors in the records could give you more important information.

Consider the Essential Information

Some information from the applicant could be off limits to keep and preserve confidentiality. There is information that will not be available with a background check, even when a professional company is doing it for you.

You can’t access information like medical records unless the candidate approves, but fortunately, this information is unnecessary during the application process. If you decide to hire the applicant, you could ask to access these records to keep track of anything meaningful to be aware of, but medical history cannot factor into the hiring process.

Different states consider different information, especially regarding criminal records or education, confidential. Depending on the position you are trying to fill, some details will be more relevant than others; focus on what is essential for the job and pay attention to that information.

Hire Professionals

To get the information you need at the right time, you need a professional team. It is essential to hire a professional background search company to get all the information you need to decide whether a person is suitable for the job.

A company specializing in these practices will inform you on how they do this process and demonstrate why a proven track record and experience matter. These companies know which laws you need to comply with for a safe and legal process, depending on the state your company resides.

Respecting a candidate’s private information and personal history, including anti-discrimination laws, is essential. Professionals have the necessary and proper experience to avoid any unnecessary problems you could encounter by accessing personal and restricted information.

Types of Background Checks

Professional agencies have a list of the different background checks they can access and have permission to get information. These distinct types of searches allow you to get the information you need.

  • Basic Check—This type of check provides information about a person’s social security number and everything associated with it, including the candidate’s full name, date of birth, and address.
  • Credit History—A credit score is an essential part of living in the US because it keeps detailed information on how someone lives. Some jobs involving finance management require a credit history to ensure that a candidate is suitable for the job.
  • Criminal Records—This type of background check is what most institutions look for. A criminal check will tell you if a person has a felony or misdemeanor, even if the event in question is a one-time thing. Crimes like DUI and illegal substance use fall into this category.
  • Employment Verification—You can find previous jobs and former employers’ comments on their experience with a specific person, including any issues, actions, and more. This verification lets you know how reliable a person could be depending on the number of jobs they have had and their reasons for leaving that job.
  • Education—It is not a secret that sometimes people don’t tell the truth about degrees, experience, and titles. Depending on the company and position, this is essential for job fulfillment.

Background Check Timing

Some states prohibit you from conducting a background check on a prospect before submitting an official job offer. For legal reasons like discrimination, if a person is fully qualified for the job and has evidence that directly supports his skills in the company, a background check is only an option afterward. Still, it is always better to have all the information for future reference.

Once you submit an offer and run the background check, the information you receive might want to make you pull the offer. This is possible, especially if the applicant did not disclose important information on the application. You could get into a legal situation if you don’t follow the proper process, which is why your state’s regulations are something essential to consider before running a background check.

Conducting a check means that you are legitimately interested in hiring the person. As an employer, you have the power to decide which steps to pay more attention to in the process. Once you get the results back while having an offer on the table, it is ideal to call the prospect to tell them the good news and welcome them to your team.

5 Things To Consider Before Running a Background Check