The Value of Background Screening in Hiring - ApplicantStack
The article emphasizes that despite the pressure to shorten the average 24-day hiring process, conducting thorough background screening—including checks of federal and civil records, employment and reference verifications, drug tests, and identity and driving records—is essential to authenticate candidates, protect workplace safety, and maintain organizational integrity by mitigating risks associated with hiring unsuitable individuals.
According to recent statistics, the average length of the hiring process takes around twenty-four days. In a market that favors job seekers, this time span is just too long for some companies. Many have resorted to cutting down on background screening in an attempt to make up for lost time. But more often than not, companies that skip this vital step risk the integrity of their organization and their hiring process.
You don’t have to cut corners to get the hiring results you want. Background screening can be a helpful tool in your hiring process and not a hindrance in attracting talent. With information from Verified First, check out these three ways background screening brings value to your organization.
1. Background Screening Authenticates a Candidate
Screening candidates looks different for all industries, but the heart of the matter remains the same. Background screening is performed to better ensure that the candidate you’re about to hire is the best person for the role. It works to authenticate a candidate by looking into a person’s background to verify their history. These screens can contain a multitude of solutions such as:
- Federal records
- Civil records
- Employment verifications
- Reference verifications
- Drug tests
- Identity checks
- Driving records
Screening also helps you verify that everything a candidate has said to indicate they’d be a great new hire is accurate.
2. Background Screening Protects Your Workplace
Information gleaned from background screening can speak to the potential risk of hiring that person. Choosing not to background screen your candidates could discredit the integrity of your business and put your existing employees, clients, and partnerships at risk.
Certain screens are designed with workplace safety in mind. These screens in particular will check for candidates who have previous offenses that could put vulnerable populations – including the elderly, children, and more – at risk.
- National Sex Offender Registry search – Searches if a person has been added as a sex offender to the National Sex Offender Registry.
- Federal criminal records search – Uncovers if a person has been convicted of a federal crime such as firearms or drug trafficking.
- Global Homeland Security search – Identifies if a person has been added to any known terrorist lists.
Over 70 million American adults have a criminal record. Screening your candidates can help you navigate records and better protect the people already within your organization and community.
Partners keep you in mind in every step of the screening process. They work to take the best care of their clients from integration to implementation.
Conclusion
Background screening adds value to your hiring process by helping you identify which candidates are the best fit for your workplace. A solid screening strategy starts by finding a screening partner with your specific needs in mind.
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