There’s something to be said about finding the perfect candidate for a job. After all of the hard work in creating a job description and interviewing applicants, it’s almost time to extend an offer. But before you can, it’s in your company’s best interest to run an employment background check.
What is an employment background check?
An employment background check is the process that a company uses to verify if an applicant or current employee is who they claim to be. Employers run a background check before hiring to check resume details and ensure someone doesn’t pose a threat to the workplace or become a liability.It’s crucial to run an employment background check on everyone you hire. As part of the pre-employment screening process, they can help confirm that you’re making a smart hiring decision before you start onboarding.
You may also choose to run annual or semi-annual background checks on current employees as a continued effort to safeguard the company and make sure that staff members continue to have a clean record, whatever your company defines that to be. There’s a lot to know about conducting employment background checks, and chances are good that you’ll have to answer some questions posed by the candidate. Dive into the details below to learn everything about employment background checks.
What is needed to run an employment background check?
To run a pre-employment background check, you’ll need certain details from the candidate, including:Full name
Date of birth
Social Security Number (SSN)
Current or past address
Consent to run the check
Pay special attention to that last point. The Fair Credit Reporting Act holds all employers accountable to comply with specific regulations to ensure that the process of running a background check is done fairly.
For instance, you as the potential employer must get permission in writing from applicants and current employees to run a background check. Employers also must let them know how the information may be used when it comes to making decisions regarding their employment.
As an employer, you may choose not to hire someone based on information found within a background check. If this is the case, you must send the candidate a notice that includes a copy of the report that was used to come to that hiring decision. Also, all employers must keep in mind that it is illegal to run an employment background check based on an applicant’s:
Race
Sex
Religion
Age
National origin
Disability
Genetic information
As an employer, you may also decide to conduct a character check, which involves speaking with personal acquaintances or references of the applicant.
What is included in an employment background check?
The information that will appear on a completed employment background check is going to depend on what type of search is ordered since several different sets of records and data can be pulled. Typically, an employment background check includes information from records based on the last seven years, although some states allow for this so reach up to 10 years.
Information found with an employee background check include:
Identity verification
Work history
Education confirmation
Credit history
Driving record
Criminal record
Medical history
Use of social media
Drug screening
If the position being applied for is specialized, it’s possible that the applicants will undergo further screenings. For example, if the position being applied for is a financial advisor, public accountant, or any sort of job at a bank, the employer may also check their financial history, as well as if they have the appropriate certifications and licenses needed for the job.
Drug screening isn’t always a part of an employment background check, but it is required for many jobs that involve operating motor vehicles, hazardous equipment, and any role that is related to the general safety of the public.
It’s also important to keep in mind that specific state and federal laws can limit the information listed on employment background checks based on an annual salary. If you are dealing with a job opening that pays less than $75,000 as its annual salary, information on government sanctions, civil judgments, and disciplinary measures related to any professional licenses will not be present in the results of a background check. If the salary for the open job pays $75,000 or more as its annual salary, this information may be present in the results.
53% of all job applicants contain inaccurate information.