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February 10, 2023
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Why Background Checks are a Wise Investment for Businesses and HR Teams

In today’s competitive job market, it’s essential for recruiters to ensure they’re hiring the best candidates for their open positions. This requires a comprehensive background check programme that can verify the accuracy of a candidate’s resume, check their criminal history, and uncover any red flags.

Anyone involved in business or HR will know that the people you hire end up influencing the culture of your company. Employing the right people gives a business its competitive edge and helps create a positive work environment for both employees and clients.

In today’s competitive job market, however, it’s easy for hiring managers to be tempted to speed through the hiring process. The desire to secure a candidate before they accept an offer elsewhere might mean skipping through important assessments such as background checks. But doing so can have negative consequences on company culture, workplace safety, and the reputation of your company.

It’s important for recruiters to avoid being tempted to forego careful consideration of candidates before bringing them on board. Even if you must take a calculated risk to hire someone quicker, one thing that you should never ignore is the importance of a background check.

In this article, we’ll explore why background checks are a wise investment for businesses, including how they can benefit your company and the risks they can help you avoid.

What is a comprehensive background screening programme?

Conducting background checks on employees plays a vital role in protecting our businesses and employees. However, an important aspect to note early on is the difference between

background screening programmes. Not all background checks are equal and not all providers offer the same level of screening.

If you are conducting background checks in-house, you are unlikely to match the level of compliance and detail offered by a professional background screening company. This is simply because they have far more experience, resources, and knowledge that allows them to offer a more robust programme that is delivered seamlessly and thoughtfully.

That said, not all background check companies offer the same level of screening. It’s important to research companies to find a reputable provider that delivers more than just a basic check across the board.

A good background check provider will offer:

  • A solid track record of experience
  • Excellent customer support
  • Legal compliance
  • Solid data security measures
  • Customised background screenings to the role & industry
  • International capabilities
  • Bespoke technology to make the process easier

A comprehensive background check programme should be tailored to the risks of the role as much as possible. If the open job position or your company are regulated, the minimum bar will usually be set by the regulators and a programme will be tailored to these regulations. In this case, the programme must be compliant and adhere to specific industry regulations.

If the role is not regulated, there are still different risks that must be considered and these should be addressed within the screening programme. These might include issues like conflict of interest, financial stability, impact on the public, and reputation of the organisation.

A comprehensive background screening programme will also be documented with well-defined policies that reduce the risk of it being challenged by unhappy candidates who don’t want to be screened. Having a policy in place also indicates that the programme has been carefully considered by the business and reduces the risk of it being inadequate or under budgeted.

How a company benefits from a comprehensive background screening programme

Investing in a background check programme can benefit a business in many ways. The following are just some examples:

Assures that candidates are truthful about their career history

A good background check programme not only reveals a candidate’s criminal history, but also if they have been untruthful about their education and employment history, including providing misleading information, false references, or exaggerating their experience. All of these can open your business up to liability and affect your reputation.

While we would like to assume that most job candidates are honest about their experience when applying for a role, the results of our work here at Verifile show that 60% of CVs checked in 2022 were found to have at least one discrepancy.

Anyone in charge of hiring knows that it’s in your own best interest to verify that job candidates have the necessary qualifications to do the job they’re hired for properly. This is especially important in cases where a job position requires a high level of expertise to maintain workplace safety and protect clients & customers. A comprehensive background screening programme can be found with providers that offer more than just a ‘one size fits all’ solution but one that is tailored to your business, industry, and job positions.

Promotes a culture of honesty

Background checks are a great tool for picking up on dishonesty during the recruitment process. If a candidate is not being honest about their experience and history, then they are likely to also be dishonest at work, which can affect the integrity of your workplace. Background screenings can therefore promote a culture of honesty in the workplace by encouraging employees to remain truthful about who they are with staff across all levels. Since all peers have to go through the same screening process, a background check programme can also enhance trust between staff and managers.

Prevents security threats

Employers consider enhancing safety and security in the workplace as one of the biggest reasons for conducting background checks. A thorough background screening programme can help establish trust between employers and employees by ensuring that candidates have no history of violent criminal behaviour or issues with previous employers. Hiring someone who has a risky past can disrupt your workplace, threaten safety & confidentiality, and diminish your company’s reputation and authority.

This is one reason why social media checks are becoming more vital in the background screening process. While a candidate may have no recorded history of criminal behaviour, a social media check can reveal red flags in their behaviour and ideology through the kind of posts they create and share on their social profiles. This can provide a more holistic view of an individual's general character and contribute a great deal towards the prevention of security threats.

Security threats that can be prevented with thorough background screening include:

  • Insider threat - A threat that originates from within an organisation (e.g. by an employee, contractor, or vendor). This may include fake credentials, data breaches, fraud, intellectual property theft, or release of ransomware.
  • Workplace violence - This can result in a person being abused, threatened, or assaulted while at work and violates the safety of your staff and work environment. Workplace violence can include physical or sexual assault as well as aggressive behaviour such as verbal threats or abuse of power.
  • Public protection - This relates to employees who may be coming in contact with the public and ensuring that there is no risk of doing harm. For example, abuse by teachers to students or by doctors to patients.
  • National security - This is a threat that could jeopardise national security, for example, if a utility company was under threat this could negatively affect the entire country.

A good programme can uncover any prior criminal history of fraud, uncover doctored IDs, and ensure you’re hiring safely to prevent these security threats from occurring in your workplace.

Screens candidates for trustworthiness

Background screening can help refine your candidate pool by filtering out those who are unwilling to be transparent and share their background history with you. If a candidate is not interested in proceeding with a background check then you know they may not be ideal for the role.

Even if a job candidate has an outstanding CV and seems convincing to the most sceptical of interviewers, if they are unwilling to proceed with a screening it may be a sign that they have something to hide. Background screenings can offer assurance that the candidates you are bringing on board are credible, trustworthy, and fitting for the job.

Protects even small businesses

Many people working in small businesses consider background checks to be something done by larger companies. However, small businesses have more reason to conduct background screenings as every person hired in a small business has a much greater impact on the organisation than those hired by a large corporation. In addition, small businesses often don’t have the infrastructure and means to handle issues that may arise from a wrong hire, including fraud, theft, and mismanagement of funds.

Larger companies often have pre-established internal policies and by-laws that make it easier for them to bounce back after a mishire. They also have more resources that can handle the costly task of firing and rehiring. As a result, a good employment screening programme can help small businesses conduct work safely and prevent issues that drain resources.

Keeps investors & clients assured

A thorough background screening programme shows clients and investors that your business is serious about its security and the quality of people it hires. You can provide investors and stakeholders with background check reports on job candidates to ease concerns that they may have and show them that you are recruiting a team that is trustworthy and reliable.

If the company you work for handles sensitive client information, a background check programme can provide peace of mind that your employees are credible and clients’ information is safe with your company. It shows clients that you take their privacy and confidentiality seriously and do your due diligence to ensure those who handle their information are trustworthy.

Strengthens company culture

A strong company culture thrives in an environment built on trust and community. Hiring a team that has undergone a thorough background screening can foster a company culture of honesty and integrity by demonstrating to employees that you’re committed to creating a safe workplace and hiring people who are a good fit. As a result, your employees feel more at ease in the workplace.

Background checks can also be used to ensure that a candidate being brought on board is the right fit for your team. Techniques such as social media screening are increasingly being used as part of a background check, and these help to reveal discrepancies between how a candidate portrays themselves professionally and how they act socially online. This reduces the chances of someone acting their way into a role and then turning into a completely different person once they’ve started the job. The result of such screenings is a stronger and more harmonious company culture.

Improves hiring process

Conducting background checks in-house can lengthen the hiring process and result in valuable candidates taking up other job offers. Investing in a good background check provider can help improve hiring times and reduce hiring costs by filtering out candidates who aren’t a good match and finding the right candidates quickly.

Providers with an easy-to-use online portal can make this process even quicker by allowing you to order checks and track progress through a platform, send candidates automatic reminders, and make it easy to upload their information. You don’t have to worry about using up internal resources chasing up candidates or managing background checks amongst other tasks.

Avoids negligent hiring & retention claims

Negligent hiring & retention is a major compliance concern for employers. These claims can be made by an employee who was hurt or damaged by another employee. This could include assault or being injured by a motor vehicle accident while on the job. If the accused employee

has a history of behaviour that should have been recognised by the employer, such as criminal violence or a driving under the influence conviction, then the affected employee can take out a negligent hiring claim against the company.

This states that the employer had reasonable information to believe that such behaviour could occur in the workplace and neglected to take reasonable care to prevent it from happening. These include not running background checks, or carrying out background checks but failing to recognise the danger in an employee’s past.

To avoid negligent hiring & retention claims - which can be costly and cause irreparable damage to your company’s reputation - you must carry out thorough background checks and make appropriate use of the results. Continuous screening of employees is also recommended to ensure that you are not retaining employees who have the potential to cause issues within your company.

Protects your company’s reputation

Background screening can be essential in preventing PR disasters that damage the reputation of your company. One example is failing to spot top executives lying on their resume and having the media find out. Another example is discovering that an employee has promoted hate speech, violence, illegal, offensive, discriminatory, or explicit behaviour on their public social media profiles.

Both of these scenarios can be prevented with a thorough background check that includes social media screening to provide a more holistic view of a candidate’s character and reveal any red flags that may be detrimental to your company’s reputation.

Failing to do so might result in someone else finding this information out first and demanding to know why you hired the candidate and how you failed to spot their behaviour. Your company’s reputation can be damaged and it will cost resources, time, and money to reassure the public that the messages don’t reflect your company’s values.

Prevents threats to company culture

Background checks can promote a harmonious workplace, and failure to do so can threaten your company culture. A bad hire can result in reduced productivity, internal conflict, affected employee morale, and a destabilised workforce. Your company might lose valued employees who quit when forced to work with bad colleagues or managers.

This can lead to a toxic and unsafe workplace culture with employees who are more stressed, less engaged, and can even result in physical violence, assault, or other forms of harassment.

Research also shows that hiring employees without a background screening process resulted in:

  • Lower quality of work
  • Negative attitude
  • Not working well with other colleagues

Having a consistent, comprehensive background check programme can help you prevent these threats to company culture and promote a workplace that is pleasant and productive.

Avoids hiring decisions driven by emotional bias

Conducting background checks in-house can easily result in unintentional emotional bias during the hiring process. As a result, you may miss out on hiring an excellent candidate or go for one that is less suitable for the role.

Investing in a background check programme can provide necessary separation between your business and information revealed during a background check. You’re less likely to make unfair decisions when someone else is handling the background screening information. Candidates will also feel more secure knowing that their information is handled by a third party.

The hidden costs of not conducting the right background checks

For many companies, background checks are a large expense that they cannot afford. However, the cost of not conducting a background check, or for conducting the wrong kind of background check, can be even greater.

It’s important to seek out an in-depth background screening programme that is relevant to the role and industry. Not all roles require the same type of background checks, even within the same company. Failing to conduct the necessary type of background check can be ineffective and result in even more loss of time and resources.

These are just some of the hidden costs of not having the right background check programme in place.

Hiring the wrong person and having to rehire

The hiring process consumes a lot of time and resources, including training, advertising costs, and staff time. A Recruitment & Employment Confederation report calculated the average cost of one bad hire in mid-management on a salary of £42,000 to be around £132,000 encompassing recruitment, training, and lost productivity.

It takes around 6-9 months to train a new employee, who will be working for full pay at a reduced rate of productivity. Throughout this time, more experienced colleagues will be taking time out of their schedule to support and guide these employees in their new role. If they turn out to be a bad hire, these are losses that cannot be recuperated.

There are not only the direct costs involved with having to hire a new person, such as paying a recruitment fee, training, bonus, and time spent on induction, but also indirect consequences.

These include affected team morale, increased stress, damaged trust in management, loss in sales, lower productivity, and increased levels of absence. In some cases, this may even include fraud and damaged reputation from lawsuits or other issues.

A solid background check programme ensures you hire the right person the first time around and save your company time, resources, and loss of reputation.

Non-compliant hiring decisions

There are strict regulations in place which ask employers to take extra care when hiring staff, particularly for certain roles and industries. Having a thorough background check programme in place ensures you remain compliant and avoid unintentional non-compliance throughout the hiring process.

Working with a reputable background check provider ensures you meet all necessary levels of compliance. These providers are familiar with all the databases and playbooks necessary to adhere to regulations and can provide a safety net that simply isn’t possible when relying on internal resources.

Besides having to remain up-to-date with legislation and relevant regulations, conducting background checks in-house may result in unwittingly using non-compliant hiring practices that can result in multimillion dollar lawsuits and damaged brand reputation.

Investing in a background check provider can protect your company from legal liabilities by ensuring that background checks are compliant with local laws and suitable for the job position and industry.

Potential fraud

According to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, organisations lose an estimated £2.37 trillion to occupational fraud and theft globally. Businesses face three types of fraud that can result in significant loss of revenue. These are:

  • Asset misappropriation - Employees stealing or taking advantage of company resources
  • Financial fraud schemes - Employees intentionally mishandling financial statements
  • Corruption - Bribery or conflict of interest

A comprehensive background check can identify candidates with a history of fraud or theft and protect your business from these risks.

Protect your workplace with a background check programme

Background checks are essential for protecting your company and fostering a healthy workplace culture built on trust and integrity. If you’re not already conducting background screening on

your employees, we can customise a programme that's compliant with local laws and suitable for your company’s industry and needs.

If you already have a background check process in place, it’s important to consistently review your programme to keep up with changing risks. Particularly with the rise of remote and hybrid working arrangements, new recruitment and insider threats are emerging that may not have been considered when creating your current screening programme. Our team can help you evaluate and update your background check process to ensure your workplace remains protected from preventable threats, now and into the future. Contact our team now for a free consultation.

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February 1, 2023
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Verifile’s review of 2022: The demand for background checks soars as businesses face increased scrutiny

From Eyal Ben Cohen, Verifile Founder and CEO

2022 was yet another year of rapid change, both here at Verifile and for our clients. The ongoing effects of the pandemic and fluid labour market combined with a volatile economy, meant HR teams were – and continue to be – under pressure.

In 2022, we also saw high-profile news items that raised awareness about these issues. For example, the UK Supreme Court ruled employers can claim compensation from candidates involved in CV fraud. HR teams now want better background checks, faster, and to extend their provision. Many want more than pre-employment screening. They are also implementing measures such as rechecks, annual assessments, and ongoing vetting of staff.

At Verifile, we’re extremely proud of the work we do. Our mission is to make the world a more honest and safer place. We exist to empower businesses to make fully informed decisions quickly and efficiently. We do this by combining accurate data with a human touch. The thing my team appreciates most about our work is making a real difference to people’s lives. We believe in a world in which honesty and openness prevail, and we champion truth and accuracy. This ethos drives all that we do.

So, let’s kick off with the data. How do our 2022 figures reflect the trends we can see in the industry?

The demand for background checks is growing

The last few years have seen major changes in the employment market. Our 2022 figures support the view that we’re still in a period of intense transition.

In 2022, more clients also used us for tasks previously carried out in-house, such as checking CVs and obtaining references. For example, we checked 59% more CVs in 2022 than 2021.

In 2022, more of our customers recruited further afield as a result of staff shortages in the UK. As a result, we carried out 27% more checks globally (over 500k). We also checked candidates in more countries. In 2022, we carried out checks in 172 countries compared with 155 countries in 2021.

Despite the increased pressure as a result of the growing demand, we have continued to improve our processes. In 2022, only 4% of all CV-related checks – employment, education and membership – closed without an official response. This translates to a reduction of 12% when compared with 2021. I’m particularly proud of this, as it means our verification rate in 2022 was 96%, which compares favourably with the industry standard of 60-80%.

Why is the demand for help with background checks increasing?

In 2022, employers in the major economies continued to recruit in high numbers as a direct consequence of post-pandemic effects on business and people. But the trend that has made the biggest impact on the number of CVs being checked is the increase in outsourcing. Resource-hungry HR teams are under pressure to streamline as many of the manual processes under their control as possible.

Checking CVs thoroughly is an extremely labour-intensive process if carried out in-house. In fact, it’s highly-time consuming, even if employers only collect references without properly verifying them first. Over the last few years, HR teams have been under increasing pressure to recruit and retain more staff and to carry out more thorough checks. This means keeping these manual processes in-house has become a major constraint.

As a result, many of our customers who previously used us only for DBS and similar records checks have asked us to take over their global screening programmes. And I'm pleased to say, many got much more value out of our partnership than they expected. We didn’t just take mundane tasks off their hands. We delivered consistent, high-quality, more insightful results than they can achieve in-house.

The increasing importance of background checks in numbers

A recent study revealed 1 in 5 people in the UK have either lied on a CV or know someone who has lied on a CV in the last year. This is a 17% increase compared with 2021.

Our metrics support the view that the number of discrepancies submitted on CVs is increasing.

➔ 60% of CVs checked in 2022 had at least one discrepancy, compared with 55% in 2021.
➔ 27% had at least one major discrepancy in 2022, compared with 23% in 2021.
➔ Only 39% had no discrepancies, compared with 43.5% in 2021. This means the number of CVs with no discrepancies has decreased in the last year by 11%.

And when it comes to education, employment and membership checks, the numbers are even more alarming.

When comparing 2022 with 2021 there has been:

➔ 28% increase in education checks with a red traffic light (major discrepancy)
➔ 13% increase in education checks with a red or amber traffic light
➔ 23% increase in employment checks with a red traffic light (major discrepancy)
➔ 13% increase in employment checks with a red or amber traffic light
➔ 19% increase in membership checks with a red traffic light (major discrepancy)
➔ 7% increase in membership checks with a red or amber traffic light

The increasing use of APIs

In 2022, more of our customers looked to gain efficiencies via automation and their use of technology. As a result, we saw an increase in the number of our clients accessing our services using APIs.

In 2022, customers submitted 31% of orders using APIs. This is a 34% increase on 2021.

See related: Helping LSBU save time and money with paperless DBS checks
 

What do our clients want? Reliable results – delivered faster.

It’s safe to say one of the key demands our customers make is for faster results, which we’re delighted to deliver.

Over the last 3 years, there has been an increase in customers using quick database checks. These tend to be much faster and, in several cases, provide instant results:

Over the last 3 years there has been:

Looking back – and planning for the future

When I look back on a year in business, I always think we could have done more! Having said that, I am extremely proud of the service the Verifile team provides for our customers.

We don’t sell hype. Hard work and effective results mean our customers stay with us year after year and continue to promote us to their peers. We’ve grown rapidly based on our reputation, and I have to be happy with that!

Over the last 5 years, we’ve seen a 300% increase in the number of candidates checked annually. There has been a 257% increase in the number of checks carried out each year. Verifile continues to grow, win new business, and support our customers as they take on more of the benefits of employment screening.

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January 24, 2023
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Top Benefits of Outsourcing Background Checks - What You Need to Know

Background checks are a vital part of the recruitment process for many companies. They allow employers to screen candidates before hiring, promote a safer workplace, and ensure a company stays legally compliant.

Many companies conduct background checks in-house, however the process can be time-consuming and takes up valuable internal resources that may be better allocated elsewhere. Outsourcing background checks to a third party provider not only speeds up the recruitment process and saves resources, but also benefits companies in many other ways.

In this guide we’ll talk about the benefits of outsourcing employment background checks and what to look for when evaluating a background check provider before you enlist their services.

The benefits of outsourcing employment background checks

Why should your business outsource background checks when they can be conducted in-house? These are just some of the benefits of enlisting a third party provider to process your employment background checks.

Cost savings

Outsourcing background checks to a reputable provider can save your business money by eliminating the need to hire and train in-house staff to conduct the checks. Third party providers process checks at scale on behalf of thousands of employers. This volume allows providers to streamline their processes and invest in bespoke technology that delivers efficiencies far beyond what is capable in-house. As a result, you receive an improved service for a lower budget than if you were to conduct the same level of checks in-house.

More thorough coverage

Most employers conducting background checks in-house are limited in the scope they can provide. Whether this is due to lack of internal resources, expertise, or access to data sources, outsourcing background checks to a reputable provider removes these limitations and allows employers to expand their background screening programme. For example, instead of concentrating on full time payrolled staff, a company may begin to screen temps, contractors, and even suppliers.

Save time and resources

Conducting thorough background checks can be a time-consuming process, especially if it requires verifying information from multiple sources or conducting international checks. This can be an issue for businesses trying to meet tight deadlines or need to make a decision quickly. Without a dedicated team for background checks, staff will often push background checks to a lower priority as they complete other daily tasks.

By outsourcing background checks to an external company, your business can save time and resources. Instead of facing the pressure of trying to meet quick turnaround times, staff can focus on other tasks in the recruitment process. This provides peace of mind knowing that background checks are being handled externally without competing with other important priorities.

More accurate & in-depth background checks

Background check providers often have access to a wide range of resources and databases that aren’t available to most businesses. As a result, their background checks can be more thorough and accurate. This is especially true for global background checks, which are challenging even for niche local providers. Verifile has particular expertise in this domain, being the provider of choice for dozens of other background check providers.

An example of background check providers using such resources and expertise is mitigating risks like degree mills and alibi mills. Because of their specialised expertise in the industry, third party providers can offer a more rigorous and in-depth background check not available for most in-house teams.

Assured legal compliance

Background check companies are familiar and remain up-to-date with relevant laws and regulations and can ensure your company complies with these regulations when conducting checks on job candidates.

This is especially the case for global background checks. Third party providers may have staff who are familiar with local laws and regulations related to background checks in different countries, which can be helpful when conducting checks in countries with different legal frameworks. This not only saves your company time and resources spent understanding different laws, but also offers peace of mind that you are staying compliant in the hands of expert guidance.

Improved hiring process

One of the primary reasons why companies choose to conduct background checks is to mitigate risk by identifying potential issues with job candidates before they’re hired. This helps protect a company’s assets, prevent future complications, and ensure the workplace remains safe.

Outsourcing employment background checks can help streamline your company’s hiring process and allow you to make more informed hiring decisions quicker. Reputable background check providers usually offer seamless integration between your recruitment platform and the background checking platform, making the process even smoother.

Consistent processes

Background check companies will have a specific process used to conduct all their checks. This results in a consistent procedure for all job candidates, which can be difficult to achieve when conducting checks in-house with a team that is balancing other tasks and responsibilities.

Consistency also extends to fairness in the recruitment process. Outsourced background check providers treat all candidates the same, while internal teams may have unconscious bias or might be influenced by hiring managers during recruitment.

Improved privacy & confidentiality

Outsourcing employment screening means your company will not be directly handling job candidate’s sensitive personal information. This can help protect their privacy and offer a degree of comfort in anonymity. Background check companies are also often bound by confidentiality agreements, which can protect your company’s reputation and prevent the release of sensitive information.

Flexibility to scale up or down

One of the primary benefits of allowing an external company to conduct your background check is the ability to scale up or down as needed. If your business is going through a surge of recruitment, background checks can easily be managed without burdening in-house staff or being limited by their capacity and workload.

Global reach

Many background check providers are proficient in conducting global background checks. As a result, your company can tap into a wider pool of potential job candidates as you won’t be limited to only conducting checks in your country. Outsourcing global background checks can also speed up the hiring process, as external providers can conduct these checks while your company is closed for business.

It’s important to note that not all providers are able to conduct proper and efficient global background checks. If this is an important consideration for your business, be sure to ask the provider about their global capabilities before you enlist their services.

Language proficiency & cultural awareness

Many background check companies hire staff proficient in multiple languages to make it easier to conduct checks in countries where English is not the primary language. Some will also have staff who are familiar with local cultures and customs, which can be helpful when conducting checks in countries with different cultural norms. This eases the difficulty of conducting global background checks.

Access to innovative technologies

Reputable background check companies will have integrations and access to innovative technologies that improve the efficiency and accuracy of the background check process. This includes new technologies like artificial intelligence, which most in-house teams may be unfamiliar with.

What to look out for when evaluating a background check provider

Now that you are clear on the benefits of outsourcing employment background checks, you may be ready to seek out a provider.

Firstly it’s important to note that employment screening providers differ greatly in their approach to background checks and the level and quality of their services. There are no industry norms governing providers and not all employment screening providers will offer the same core service. This is why it’s important to find the right provider for your requirements.

We recommend that you consider the following when evaluating background check providers to ensure you are getting the service you need.

Reputation

Be sure to seek out a provider with a good reputation in the industry. A background check company’s reputation can be determined through simple research such as reading reviews and speaking to other companies who have used that provider’s services. Don’t be afraid to ask a potential provider for references from other companies and follow up on these references to get a sense of the provider’s reliability and effectiveness.

Customer & candidate support

An often overlooked aspect of outsourcing background checks is the level of customer & candidate support a third party provider offers.

As an employer, you want to know you can reach out with questions and concerns and receive a prompt response from a representative that’s dedicated to supporting you throughout the

process. This is especially important if you don’t have an in-house legal team that can consult you on compliance. You may be relying on the provider to shape your screening programme, so outstanding customer support is essential.

From a candidate’s perspective, being supported throughout the employment screening process helps promote a positive first impression of the employer. Some providers offer an excellent candidate support experience, with dedicated teams and even a VIP service for very senior roles. Others only offer automated services with limited communication with candidates.

If this is an important aspect for you, be sure to check with a potential provider on the level of customer & candidate support they offer.

Experience

Look for a background check company that has a track record of experience. This ensures that they are familiar with the process, experts in legal compliance, and can handle checks quickly and efficiently. Experience is especially important when conducting global background checks, as you want the provider to be familiar with local laws and regulations.

Turnaround times

It’s worth considering how quickly a provider can complete background checks, especially if you are trying to fill positions quickly. You don’t want to outsource background checks to a company that takes longer than it would for your business to complete the checks in-house.

It’s important to be mindful here that some providers may guarantee artificially fast turnaround times. This may be an indication that some elements of the screenings, such as references, may be closed off as ‘Unable to confirm’. This happens automatically after a few failed attempts by the provider and mostly when using an automated approach to referencing. This kind of result negates the point of outsourcing as you have to follow up on the checks yourself, lengthening the process even more.

Legal compliance

Be sure that the background check provider you are evaluating is familiar with and compliant with relevant laws and regulations, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act in the US or GDPR in Europe. You can determine this by seeing if their website mentions complying with industry regulations. This usually means that compliance is an important priority for that company.

Data security

Many businesses hesitate to outsource background checks to a third party provider as they’re concerned about privacy issues. It’s therefore important to choose a provider that has solid data security measures in place to protect job candidates’ personal information. Don’t be afraid to ask providers how they collect, share, use, and protect customer data before you enlist their services.

Customisation

To get the most out of your outsourced employment background checks, choose a provider that is able to tailor their services to meet your company’s specific needs. This not only is valuable for your business but a sign of a quality background check company that is focused on providing the best service to their customers.

Services & integration

All providers are different, so it’s worth looking into what types of background checks a provider offers, how they are conducted, and whether these meet your company’s needs. You should also determine whether the provider’s background check process can easily be integrated with your company’s HR systems and processes.

International capabilities

If your business is likely to require global background checks, be sure that the provider has the appropriate experience and capabilities to conduct accurate, thorough, and compliant checks internationally.

Technology

Some providers offer online portals or automated status updates that can make outsourcing employment background checks more efficient and easier to manage. This also tends to be a sign of a reputable company that has long-term experience in the industry.

Summing up

You may now feel that it’s right for your business to outsource background checks to a reputable provider. So where to from here?

There are different types of employment screening providers ready to help, from small local providers to global services with their own bespoke technology ensuring the most thorough checks. Some providers offer a fully managed outsourced service while others offer a platform only. Be sure to consider your recruitment needs when researching providers to find the right fit for your business.

If you have enough expertise in-house, you may only require an automated background check provider to conduct the checks on your behalf. However, if you’re looking to rely on the provider to shape your employment screening programme and offer compliance advice and consultancy, then you will be better off with a more premium service that can cater to your needs.

At Verifile, we have a team of highly-qualified experts ready to guide you through the employment screening process no matter where you are in the world. Get in touch with our team now to see how we can cater our services to your unique needs.

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