What's the purpose of a background check?

Background checks allow employers to verify information provided, assess job-fit, keep current employees safe, avoid risks and negligent hiring, and comply with HR regulations. Fast background checks are important because in the current hiring process, new employees come and go quickly. Consider the education field, where background checks are needed to make sure children are around safe people.

Types of Employment Background Checks

Most companies will not complete all of these checks. Instead, they will choose a few methods to confirm who you are. 

1. Identity Verification: Ensuring personal information such as name, date of birth, age, and address is not only valid but correct through official records. 
2. Criminal Background Checks: Going through a person's criminal history to see any past issues with the law, it’s important to check if the potential employee could be a danger to others in the company. 
3. Credit Background Checks: Some job roles require you to have high financial responsibility. Credit history can tell an employer your spending and borrowing behavior with your own finances. 
4. Social Media Checks: A person's social footprint is the perfect place for employers to check what you do on your own time, it can show your personality, behavior, character, and can affect your professional reputation. 
5. Reference Checks: Companies often call references listed to get a better sense of your attitude in the workplace and verify your listed accomplishments on your resume.
6. Professional License & Educational Background Checks: Certain jobs need professional licenses, certifications, degrees, or educational qualifications, this means making sure qualifications are real and true. 
7. Drug screening: Drug tests are sometimes needed for people working in the sports industry or other jobs. They help companies comply with workplace safety, company laws, or legal requirements. Drug tests involve sampling someone's hair, blood, and urine. 

How to fasten the background check process

1. Inform candidates: Simply add that there will be a background check process onto the job posting. Candidates are less likely to lie on their resume and qualifications if they know they will be screened. 
2. Online data collection: Use the internet to find information using online data collection to save time and money. This method is also convenient as a computer system is less likely to make mistakes. 
3. Online Drug checks: Using electronic forms, digital authorizations, and online platforms for scheduling and receiving results, this helps to do tests faster without using physical paper. 
4. Submit all needed information: Make sure to submit the following types of information to your background check provider
   1. Candidate’s full name
   2. Candidate’s Social Security number
   3. Candidate’s Date of Birth
   4. Signed authorization forms

There are a lot of major background check websites that are out there stealing your information to sell. If you want to make sure you are as safe as possible on the Internet, you should spend a few minutes removing yourself.

5. Use Applicant Tracking System (ATS): These are computer programs that can help track candidates job applications. ATS can be connected to other computer systems to help speed up background checks.

Background checks are needed for all jobs but companies choose which ones to perform. It’s important to keep your online image positive and professional because companies want to protect their image. Overall, implementing these simple systems and tips will speed up the lengthy background check process.