Background screening, also known as pre-employment screening, is a comprehensive screening process that employers implement to filter the history and credentials of candidates. It ranges from checking various elements of a candidate’s background to ensure they qualify and do not come along with potential risks for the company.
Â
What is Background Screening?
Â
Background screening is like performing a complete background check on a person before employing them. It is about verifying that the information they provide is accurate and that they are qualified for the position. This comprises ensuring they have correct references, reconfirming their personal information, ensuring that their work history is true, investigating any previous legal issues, and confirming their education. The basic purpose of this process is to ensure the information given by applicants is true and to determine if they are the right candidates for the jobs. This is done by employers to ensure that they make intelligent and safe hiring decisions, thereby creating an environment where trust is promoted and safety is consistently guaranteed.
Â
How Background Screening is Done?
Â
Background screening is a method used by organizations to learn about a person’s background, character, and qualifications. This principle provides a way through which employers, landlords and other people can make intelligent decisions when employing employees, leasing properties or granting certain privileges. Things that can be varied in the way background screening is done, but briefly, this is how it is done.
Â
- Identification of Screening Needs: Employers determine what is needed in terms of specific information based on the job or reason for the screening.
- Consent and Authorization: For the background check, it is required that the screened person must sign a document giving his or her written permission.
- Criminal History Check: As a rule, performing a check for a criminal record or conviction of any kind at the local, state or national level is a routine procedure.
- Employment Verification: Employers also verify relevant details on an individual’s work history, such as job titles, dates worked, and reasons for leaving previous jobs.
- Education Verification: Where credentials are checked to ascertain the accuracy of someone’s academic history, such as degrees obtained and graduation dates.
- Credit History Check: In some cases, especially with people who apply for financial jobs, employers may want to see a credit report to assess a person’s financial trustworthiness.
- Reference Checks: Employers check on the references or past employers listed so that they may establish more knowledge about a particular person’s work habits, skills, and character.
- Professional License Verification: There may be a necessity to confirm the professional license of the individual for the positions that need licenses (doctors, lawyers).
- Social Media Screening: In the case of the employer, they might look for other details about a person’s social media profiles for additional information regarding their personality, behavioural patterns, and possible issues.
- Drug Testing: Some employers may have a drug test imposed to ensure that the workplace is drug-free.
- Driving Record Check: If one is working on a job that involves driving, the employer may check on an individual’s driving record to know his or her record of violations and car crashes.
- Global Screening (if applicable): If a person is from a country outside the Republic of India, it might be necessary to conduct an international background check to confirm information from foreign countries.
Â
Background Check Education
Â
A part of checking someone’s history is to make sure their school background is true. This means checking the details of a person’s schooling record, like diplomas and certificates. This is all written down in their resume.
Â
Educational background checks typically include:
Â
- Degree Verification: Checking if the person has the degrees they say they have gotten. This might need getting in touch with the school directly to check what degrees were given out.
- Attendance and Graduation Dates: Checking the candidate’s attendance and graduation dates to make sure their resume has correct information.
- Certification Validation: Checking any other qualifications or special training talked about by the person to make sure they are really good at specific fields.
Â
Also Read:
FAQs
Background screening, also known as pre-employment screening, is a process conducted by employers to evaluate a candidate’s history, qualifications, and suitability for a specific role.
Employers conduct background screenings to verify candidate information, assess their suitability for the job, and ensure a safe and trustworthy work environment.
Background verification includes criminal history checks, employment history verification, educational background checks, credit history checks, reference checks, and identity verification.