Many HR managers think they know how to screen employees. In many cases, they may be right. However, there are plenty of myths and “shortcuts” that hiring managers should be aware of. Falling prey to one of these myths could cause you to miss critical information or even find yourself getting sued.
Myth #1: There’s a single background check database.
Professional screening services don’t have magical access to a single database that contains information about your job candidates. Rather, there are a wide range of tools that people in the background screening industry use. By using multiple sources of information, background screening companies ensure that you’re getting good information that can be verified. Plus, you won’t have to worry that you’re missing out on a critical piece of information that may make the difference between hiring a candidate and passing on them.
Myth #2: A background check from any screening service is the same.
Background check companies each have their own set of processes and databases that they use for screening potential employees. Therefore, a background check from one company may turn up different information, or even different types of information, than one from a different place. It’s worth your time to research what you’re getting when you purchase a background check to ensure that you’ll get all the information you need to make a decision.
Myth #3: Background checks can catch “bad” people.
While a background check does provide a picture of a job candidate, it may not stop you from hiring “bad” employees. A job candidate may not be a good fit for reasons that wouldn’t show up on a background check. For example, not all criminal activity results in an arrest or conviction. Plus, many unethical activities may never result in an official record that can be found. While you may be able to find out if a candidate has lied on his or her resume or falsified credentials, you might not learn about other unethical activities. That’s why it’s critical to conduct interviews to get a feel for the person you’re considering hiring.
Myth #4: Performing background checks can help you hire the best employees.
Much like the previous myth, many hiring managers believe that a background screening service ensures that they’ll find the best employees. While background checks may not be able to determine that you’re hiring the best possible employee, they can save you time and money that you might spend hiring and training an employee that’s unsuitable for your company.
Background checks can do a lot of things for your company. They can help you avoid negligent hiring lawsuits, screen potential job candidates and provide you with information about current employees. Before you get a background check through a qualified screening service, you’ll want to learn as much as you can about the process to make sure you know what you’ll be getting. Contact us!