A criminal history check can supply valuable information during hiring, but a comprehensive employment background check often includes other areas that help employers make more informed decisions. Depending on the role, this may include employment verification, education verification, driving records, professional licenses, identity information, and other job-relevant screening services. Looking beyond criminal history can give employers a clearer picture of an applicant’s qualifications, experience, and potential fit for the position. This guide explains the key components of a comprehensive background check and how each can support a more thorough hiring process.
Employment History
Employment verification can confirm a person’s past jobs, official job title, and employment dates. This confirms whether the applicant’s CV accurately reflects their work experience and can provide useful insight about their career. All of this can help you determine if they’re the best fit for the position they’re applying for.
Education and Credentials
Education verification confirms what degrees, certifications, licenses, and other qualifications the person has. This can be especially valuable for positions that need specialized training or professional credentials. Checking these details helps you confirm they have the qualifications needed to perform the job and reduces the risk of hiring someone whose CV qualifications aren’t accurate.
Professional References
A thorough background check can also check the person’s references to give you additional perspective on their workplace performance, communication style, reliability, ability to work within a team, and overall conduct in the office. Speaking with professional references can help you better understand how an applicant performed in past roles and give you a picture of how they’ll fit into your existing team.
Identity Verification
A person’s education, experience, and qualifications don’t mean much if that’s not truly the person applying for the job. Identity verification helps you confirm that the person applying for the job is who they say they are. It can also help ensure that other background screening results belong to the right person. This step is especially important when names are common or when you need to match information across multiple record sources.
When screening job applicants, comprehensive background checks can provide employers with valuable information beyond a criminal history search. Identity verification, education and employment verification, and professional reference checks can provide additional insight into a candidate’s qualifications and experience. A more thorough pre-employment screening process can help employers identify potential discrepancies, evaluate candidates more effectively, and make more informed hiring decisions.
