The process of hiring an employee is a significant investment of time, money, and resources for any company. Ensuring that the person being hired is the right fit for the job is a crucial aspect of the recruitment process. Hence, conducting a thorough employment background check is a standard practice used today.
Employment background checks have become increasingly popular over time, and they provide valuable information to help employers make informed decisions about potential candidates. In this article, we will explore the information that can be obtained from an employment background check and its significance in the decision-making process.
What Is an Employment Background Check?
An employment background check is a thorough screening process that employers use to get information about potential employees. The purpose of this background check is to verify the information provided by the applicant on their resume, job application, or during the interview process. The information provided by the background check can help employers to make more informed hiring decisions and prevent potential problems in the future.
While the scope and depth of employment background checks can vary depending on the job requirements, it typically includes criminal history, employment history, education verification, credit history, and references.
Criminal History
Criminal history is one of the most critical aspects of an employment background check. The criminal background check is used to reveal any criminal convictions or pending criminal charges against a potential employee. This information is essential for positions that require employees to work with the public, sensitive information, or vulnerable populations.
For instance, employers who operate in industries like healthcare, finance, and education place a high value on employees with a clean criminal record. This is because employees in these industries can easily access private and confidential information, and criminal history can threaten the safety and security of customers or clients.
Employment History
Employment history is another crucial aspect of an employment background check. Employers use this information to verify an applicant's work history, previous job titles, and job responsibilities. The employment background check also provides information about the employee's reasons for leaving previous positions. Employers can use this information to assess the candidate's work ethic, reliability, and punctuality.
Education Verification
Education verification is the process of confirming an applicant's academic qualifications. Education background checks are becoming increasingly important as academic fraud and diploma mills become prevalent. Employers can verify an applicant's educational qualifications by checking their transcripts, diplomas, and degree certificates.
Credit History
Credit history is another type of information that employers obtain from a background check. This information is typically required for positions that require access to sensitive financial information. An employer can obtain a credit report to evaluate a candidate's financial responsibility, which is essential for jobs in the finance industry.
References
Reference checks are an essential aspect of an employment background check. Employers reach out to an applicant's references to inquire about their performance, work ethic, and behavior in previous job positions. Reference checks provide employers with valuable insights into an applicant's character, which can help them assess the potential candidate's suitability for the position.
The Significance of Employment Background Checks
Employment background checks offer many benefits to employers. One of the main benefits of employment background checks is that it helps employers make more informed hiring decisions. By obtaining information about an applicant's criminal record, employment history, and education qualifications, employers can verify the information provided by the applicant and ensure that they are a suitable candidate for the job.
Employment background checks also help to reduce the risk of workplace violence and embezzlement. It can also prevent potential lawsuits by revealing any past criminal convictions that could pose a risk to other employees or customers.
Real-Life Examples
The importance of employment background checks cannot be overstated. One example of a company that faced severe consequences due to a lack of employment background checks is Uber. Uber's lack of background check policies led to the 2014 San Francisco incident where an Uber driver assaulted and raped a female passenger. The driver, who had previously been convicted of a felony, should not have passed a comprehensive background check, but Uber's background check policies at the time were inadequate.
Another example of the importance of employment background checks is the 2013 Navy Yard shooting in Washington D.C. Aaron Alexis was a contractor who had a previous arrest record, including a conviction for a firearms-related incident. He underwent a standard background check, which failed to reveal information about his previous criminal record. This information likely would have prevented Alexis from gaining access to the Navy Yard and committing the shootings.
Conclusion
In summary, employment background checks are a crucial aspect of the hiring process, and they provide valuable information to employers. By conducting thorough background checks, employers can make informed hiring decisions, reduce workplace risks, and avoid potential legal issues and adverse publicity.
Employment background checks have become increasingly important, especially in industries that require employees to interact with the public or access sensitive information. Ultimately, conducting employment background checks is a small investment that can save employers from costly mistakes in the long run.
