Background Screening: Making Informed Hiring Decisions
Learn how pre-employment background checks ensure workforce safety, aid informed hiring, and what to look for in a background check vendor.
March 11, 2025
Pre-employment background checks are an important part of keeping your workforce safe. This blog covers how a background helps make informed hiring decisions, the components that often constitute a background check, and the abilities to look for in a background check vendor.
Why Pre-Employment Screening is Important
Making a hiring decision without a background check is like stepping into the unknown. While résumés and interviews provide valuable insights, they don’t always tell the full story.
Without a proper background check, employers risk making decisions based on incomplete or misleading information. A comprehensive screening process acts as a crucial safeguard, ensuring that new hires meet the qualifications, experience, and integrity required for the role. Accuracy and thoroughness are key to helping employers mitigate risks, maintain workplace safety, and build a trustworthy team. In today’s competitive job market, due diligence isn’t just an option, it’s a necessity.
Background checks will help:
- Help employers make informed decisions.
-Reduce staff turnover
-Avoid dishonest applicants to prevent damage to the company’s reputation
- Background checks are effective tools in helping employers hire qualified individuals for a job.
-Attract top talents
-Hire the most qualified candidates for the position
- Promotes a safe workplace environment.
-Cultural fit
- Help employers comply with state and federal screening regulations.
-Negligent hiring
However, a background check is only as effective as its accuracy and thoroughness. Incomplete or outdated screenings can lead to hiring risks, from safety concerns to legal issues. Here are some important components of a background check.
Components of a Background Check
A: Criminal Searches
County Criminal: Search all convictions and charges within the county listed.
State Criminal (Not available in all states): Search multiple counites within a specific state for convictions.
National Criminal: Search millions of records across thousands of databases for information from numerous state and county agencies, departments of correction, and more. May identify potential records that need further investigation. All records located are verified through the originating jurisdiction.
Federal Criminal: Search of federal cases that include crimes involving federal law, crimes that cross state boundaries, and crimes committed on federal property (examples are violations like tax evasion, fraud, embezzlement, identity theft, interstate trafficking, and kidnapping.
Sex Offender: Search of 50 state databases for registered sex offenders.
B: Verifications
Employment Verification: Verify employment information provided by the applicant. Verify up to 7 years of employment history.
Education Verification: Verify the highest degree earned or attended provided by the applicant.
Professional licensure: Confirm any job-related certifications or licenses as claimed by the applicant
Social Security Verification: A search of numerous databases used as a pointer tool to help identify potential addresses and aliases associated with a provided SSN. This product reveals past locations and where an individual may have lived along with any aliases (additional names such as maiden names or previous married names). It also points to additional jurisdictions for potential criminal records.
C: Motor Vehicle Records and Commercial Driver’s License (MVR/CDL)
Motor Vehicle Records (MVR): Return an applicant’s motor vehicle records with a state-level search run through the Department of Motor Vehicles. Reports accidents and violations that are not available on other reports.
Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) – A CDL is a specialized driver’s license that allows a driver to operate certain types of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) on roadways. Regulated by the DOT.
D: International Searches
Global Security: Searches OFAC (Office of Foreign Asset Control). This checks the applicant against the list of individuals and companies with blocked assets. This search is an important tool in maintaining compliance with the Patriot Act.
International Criminal- based on availability and requirements from each country.
International Verifications- Employment or Education verifications outside of the US.
Choosing the Right Background Check Vendor: Key Factors to Consider
Selecting the right background check provider is crucial for ensuring a smooth, compliant, and reliable hiring process. Not all vendors offer the same level of service, so it’s essential to partner with one that prioritizes accuracy and customer support. Below are key factors to look for when evaluating a background check provider to ensure they meet your company’s needs.
Responsive and proactive communication
Tailored solutions for companies of all sizes
Dedicated service team
All team members are Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) certified through The Professional Background Screening Association (PBSA)
Compliance Focused- will help you navigate the legal requirements related to background checks
Experienced team that knows the screening business inside and out and that understands the specific needs of your industry
Support navigating the legal requirements of background checks to ensure your screening program is compliant with state and federal regulations.
Get Expert Help with Background Check Services
If you have questions about a background check program or want to learn how to customize background check services to your organization’s needs, please contact ASAPcheck. We have decades of experience partnering with employers to help them hire smarter and mitigate employment risks with customizable and cost-effective background check programs.
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