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When you need to hire employees to work with your company, one of the things you should do is conduct background checks on job candidates. This will help to ensure that a job candidate is right for your company and help you learn more about their qualifications.
This article will discuss what employers can learn about job candidates when using a background check company.
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What Are Background Checks?
Background checks are becoming increasingly common for employers.
A background check is basically a screening process that potential employers use to gather information about someone’s criminal history, education, and employment history. Businesses often use this information to determine if someone is qualified for the job or not. Most people don’t realize that a background check can also reveal a lot of personal information about the person in question.
What Can You Learn from a Background Check?
You Can Find Out Personal Information
For starters, you will likely find out the candidate’s full legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number. You can easily run a credit check to see the candidate’s financial history with this information.
You may also be able to access public records such as the candidate’s criminal history or marriage and divorce records. In some cases, you may even be able to obtain information about their medical history. You can use all of this information to determine if they are the right fit for the job or not.
Learn About Someone’s Criminal History
If the person has ever been arrested, that will show up on their background check. You can also see if they have any outstanding warrants or if they have been convicted of a crime. This information can obviously be used to determine if they are suitable for the job or not.
Verify the Candidate’s Employment History
You will probably also be able to see the candidate’s employment history. This includes any previous jobs that they have had and their job title, salary, and dates of employment. You may also be able to see if they were ever fired from a job or if they quit without notice. This information can help you determine if they are reliable and trustworthy.
Check on the Candidate’s Education History
You will also be able to see their educational history. This includes the schools they attended, as well as the degrees they received. You may also be able to see any gaps in their education, which could raise red flags. Be ready to ask about any gaps in the person’s education history during the interview.
View Someone’s Driving History with a Background Check
If the person has ever had a driving violation, that will also show up on their background check. This includes accidents, citations, and even DUIs. You may be hesitant to hire someone who has many tickets or DUIs on their record.
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Should You Inform Job Candidates They Should Prepare for a Background Check?
Depending on the legal jurisdiction where you maintain your business, you might need to inform candidates that you intend to conduct background checks. Even if this is not a requirement, you might want to provide job candidates with this information as a courtesy.
First, make candidates aware of the information that will be included in the report. This way, they can prepare for any questions you might ask.
Second, inform them that they should check their credit scores and any criminal records to make sure these records are accurate and up-to-date. There are many services out there that can help them do this.
Finally, let them know they should be ready to answer any questions about their employment history or education. If they have any education gaps, they need to be sure they can explain why that is. And if they have a criminal record, they should be able to talk about it and explain what they have learned from the experience.
A background check can be a scary process for some people, but you can make it easier for them by giving them a chance to be prepared. Finally, remind them that the more information they provide, the better you will be able to assess whether or not they are a good fit for the job.
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