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No hire is a guaranteed success. It’s frustrating to finally fill a much-needed position only to have that employee not work out. It costs time, it costs money, and it costs morale.
How do you lower the risk of hiring a candidate who is unqualified, is unsafe, or can’t meet your company’s goals? The answer is by doing a general background check.
A pre-employment background check provides inside information on a job candidate's profile, allowing you to verify their qualifications and character. Below, we provide a guide on background checks, explaining what they are, how they work, and tips for getting the most out of them.
Table of Contents
- What Is a General Background Check for Employment?
- Types of General Background Checks
- What To Look For in a General Background Check Provider
- Tips on Reading General Background Check Results: Employer’s Guide
- How Cisive Streamlines Your General Background Checks
What Is a General Background Check for Employment?
A general background check for employment is a process you use to verify a job candidate's information.
You can gather details about a candidate’s past to make informed hiring decisions. A general background check helps you confirm the applicant's identity, work history, and qualifications. It also can provide ongoing monitoring after you’ve hired someone for the job.
The background check varies depending on your company's needs, your industry compliance regulations, and the job role. Certain positions require additional screenings, such as drug tests or reference checks.
What Information Does a General Background Check Typically Include?
During a background check, you’ll search for several items related to the candidate's qualifications for the job:
- Verification of identity and Social Security Number
- Criminal record search at county and state levels
- Employment history confirmation for past positions
- Validation of education credentials and stated degrees
For a general background check, you want to confirm that everything they told you on their application and in the interview is accurate. You'll verify the applicant’s identity and conduct criminal record searches to uncover any past offenses. You'll also confirm their employment history and validate their credentials.
For some positions, you may also review credit reports, check driving records, and verify professional licenses and certifications.
Where Do Background Check Providers Source Their Information?
Background check providers obtain information from multiple sources to verify that a candidate’s application is accurate and current. They access county courthouses, state agencies, and federal criminal databases to gather criminal history data.
They use the Department of Motor Vehicle records for driving histories, credit reporting bureaus for credit checks, and U.S. bankruptcy courts for bankruptcy reports. To verify credentials, background check companies contact primary sources directly. They reach out to past employers, educational institutions, and licensing bodies.
Do I Have To Conduct Background Checks for All of My Staff?
You may not be legally required to conduct background checks for all of your staff, but it's often a good practice. The need for background checks depends on your industry, the nature of the job, and legal regulations. Some positions, like those in healthcare, education, or finance, may require background checks.
For other roles, it's up to your company's policy and risk assessment. Consider each position’s level of responsibility, access to sensitive information, and interaction with vulnerable populations. Conduct basic checks for entry-level positions and more comprehensive screenings for management roles.
Remember to apply your background check policy consistently to avoid discrimination claims. Always follow federal and state laws, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
Types of General Background Checks
A multi-faceted approach to reviewing a candidate’s professional and personal history gives you more information to make an informed decision. Let’s examine a few of the most common types of general background checks and the information they provide.
Criminal History
A criminal history check is a search of public records for any criminal convictions or pending charges. You'll look at county, state, and federal levels for felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions. The report may include the type of offense, conviction date, and case disposition. You might also see pending charges or arrests.
Criminal history checks reveal patterns of behavior that affect job performance or workplace safety. You can assess if past offenses relate to the job duties. This information helps protect your company, employees, and customers from potential risks associated with criminal behavior.
Drug Testing
Drug testing detects the presence of illegal drugs in a person's system. You can conduct these tests using various methods, such as urine, blood, hair, or saliva samples. Common drug tests screen for marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, opioids, and PCP. Some even detect the use of prescription medications or alcohol.
If the applicant does show use of illegal drugs, they may be unreliable or even dangerous to staff and clients. Drug testing reduces the risk of accidents, decreases absenteeism, and improves overall job performance. You may also need it to comply with industry regulations or company policies.
Employment Verification
Employment verification confirms a candidate's work history and checks the accuracy of the information they provided. Contact former employers to verify dates of employment, job titles, and sometimes salary information. Some employers may also provide information about job responsibilities, reasons for leaving, or rehire eligibility.
Employment verification can reveal discrepancies in dates, titles, or other details. Confirming previous roles helps you assess the candidate's experience and qualifications. It also helps protect your company from potential risks of hiring based on false information.
What To Look For in a General Background Check Provider
You don’t have to manually verify all the information on your own. A background check provider can collect and verify a job candidate’s information on your behalf and deliver a detailed report. Here’s what to look for when selecting a provider.
1. Offers Comprehensive Solutions
Look for a provider that can handle various types of checks, from the three above to more specialized checks. You may only need the basic types now, but you could need more detailed checks as you grow. A good provider should be able to accommodate advanced checks and tailor their services to your specific needs.
Some features to look for include:
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- Identity verification
- Criminal background checks at multiple levels
- Employment and education history verification
- Drug testing and health screenings
- Credit reports for financial positions
- Licensing verification
2. Has Expertise in Your Industry
The provider should understand your industry’s compliance requirements and common hiring challenges. A provider familiar with your sector can offer tailored solutions and insights. You also need someone familiar with standards and regulations so that you stay in compliance and protect your company from liability.
Industries with specialized needs may include:
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- Healthcare organization compliance, license verification, and exclusion list records
- Trucking industry CDL and driving record checks
- Financial sector security clearances
- Education system background requirements
3. Includes Reliable Customer Support
Good support can make a big difference in your experience. You want a company that's responsive and helpful when you have questions or issues, not one that makes it difficult to get answers.
When you can’t get the information you need, you waste company time and money trying to resolve problems. If the background check takes too long, you could even lose talented applicants. Great service makes you more efficient, keeping everything moving forward.
A quality provider will offer these services:
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- 24/7 availability for urgent inquiries
- Multiple contact methods (phone, email, chat)
- Dedicated account manager for personalized service
- Comprehensive online help resources and guides
4. Has Positive Ratings From Past Users
Consider provider ratings and reviews from past users. Positive feedback indicates reliability, accuracy, and good customer service. G2, a popular review platform, offers valuable insights into various background check services.
Cisive, a background check provider, has received positive feedback from numerous users, including at G2. Users praise its integration capabilities and how easy it is to use. It also gets high marks for accuracy and thoroughness.
Tips on Reading General Background Check Results: Employer’s Guide
Since every hire you make impacts your business, you need to develop an effective hiring strategy for reviewing general background checks. If you work with a background check provider, you’ll receive a detailed report on each hire. Here are some tips on reading general background check results:
Learn Your Business’s Industry Norms
Different sectors have varying standards for what's acceptable in a candidate's history. For example, financial services may have stricter requirements for credit checks, while trucking companies will focus on motor vehicle records. Familiarize yourself with industry norms and common red flags in your field.
Stay Up-to-Date on Regulations
Laws like the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and state-specific rules can change. You need to know the current requirements for obtaining consent, providing disclosures, data privacy, and taking adverse action. Stay updated on ban-the-box laws and restrictions on using certain information.
This is a lot of information to check, and it’d be a high price to pay if you don’t do it well. A background check provider will ensure that you stay in compliance with every federal, state, and local regulation in your area.
Be Detailed to Avoid Mistakes
Double-check names, dates, and addresses to avoid mix-ups with common names or similar identities. Look for inconsistencies between the report and the candidate's application, which could be innocent or could be an attempt to deceive you. Once the check is complete, verify that all requested types of checks were completed.
If something seems off, don't hesitate to ask for clarification from the background check provider or applicant. Thoroughly reviewing files can prevent errors that could lead to poor hiring decisions or legal issues.
Use Fair Hiring Practices
Fair hiring practices ensure you treat all candidates equally and avoid discrimination based on protected characteristics. There are processes you can implement to help you achieve a consistent fair hiring practice.
For example, if any red flags come up in their background check, you’ll need to consider their nature and severity. Develop consistent guidelines for evaluating results. Give candidates a chance to explain discrepancies or past issues, and be sure to document every step you take.
Trust a Reliable Background Check Service to Automate Your Process
A background check service helps you know that you’re in compliance with all regulations and that you are getting accurate information. It also helps you save time by using a one-stop service rather than manually running every check yourself.
Cisive, for example, offers comprehensive background checks with 99.9% accuracy. And we’re fast: We close 85% of criminal searches within one hour. With a focus on legal compliance, we help employers make confident hiring decisions.
How Cisive Streamlines Your General Background Checks
Cisive automates manual tasks, such as candidate consent forms and legal compliance checks. With a variety of checks and industry-specific expertise, including healthcare and trucking, Cisive can tailor every check to your specific needs. Plus, we have connections to numerous databases for faster record retrieval.
With real-time status updates and 24/7 support from dedicated representatives, you’ll always know your next step. By choosing Cisive, you can optimize your hiring process, reduce time-to-fill, and make confident decisions based on thorough, efficient background checks.
Cisive Is Your Partner in Smooth, Reliable Background Checks
Hiring a qualified, safe, and productive team is easier when you have the tools to find the right candidates. Cisive’s comprehensive general background check platform gives you everything you need to build your team with confidence while reducing costs and staying compliant. Contact us today to speak with a Cisive expert and get a demo.
