The Best Background Checks for Hiring New Employees

Hiring professionals know that a tight job market means the procedures for hiring must be quick and efficient. It simply takes too much time and money to run every background check on every candidate. The most effective hiring process considers only what's necessary to deliver a positive candidate experience and an excellent new employee. 

Here's what to consider when selecting the best background checks for hiring new employees.

Which Background Checks are Available?

To select the screens necessary for hiring new employees, it's good to know what background check reports are available. Here is a list of the most common background checks for pre-employment screening:

• Identity Checks - Identity Verification, Social Security Number Trace, Address History
• Financial History - Credit History Report, Credit Summary
• Substance Abuse - Urinalysis Drug Testing
• Criminal Searches - National Criminal Database and Sex Offender Search, Federal Criminal Search, Statewide Criminal Search, County Criminal Search, International Watch List
• Employment Verification
• Education Verification
• Professional License Verification
• MVR - Drivers License

This information is available but at differing costs and turnaround times. Click below to learn more about each background check and how much time they take. 

What are the Best Background Checks for Hiring New Employees?

For the fastest and least expensive hiring process, hiring managers can limit the background screening for each new employee based on the job they're being hired to do.

As an example, most new employees would require the most basic of background checks:

• Identity Checks - Identity Verification, Social Security Number Trace, Address History
• Criminal Searches - National Criminal Database and Sex Offender Search

Depending on the job description and skill requirements, the candidate may require a few more screens such as:

• Employment Verification
• Education Verification

For a job that requires a professional license, a professional license verification may be necessary. If the job requires driving, an MVR report could be added. If they'll be working with a vulnerable population such as children or the elderly or working in healthcare, a drug screening or more in-depth criminal screens may be required. You get the idea. 

How to Get the Best, Most Accurate Background Checks for New Hires

Accuracy is important when screening employees but so is compliance. When working with a screening partner, make sure they'll be transparent about costs and turnaround time. Check for FCRA-certified staff and that their process for gathering data is checked and double-checked. It's easy to find background reports that are cheap and fast but they'll end up costing more in the long run if the wrong information leads to a bad hire or FCRA or EEOC litigation. The best background checks for hiring new employees are the ones that save time, money and help hire the perfect employee for the job.