Need to Screen a Potential Hire? What Your Business Needs to Know About Background Check Companies

Companies are using background checks now, more than ever before, to make certain they are hiring the right person. Unfortunately, background checks are now more common because so many job seekers have a tendency to "exaggerate" on their résumés. Companies want to identify severe problems in the candidate's employment or personal history. But what information are they entitled to and what privacy rights do you have?

A large background check company conducts between 4,000 and 12,000 checks per day, with costs varying from $19 to $56 depending on the type of information the company is seeking.

Such a company will check an applicant's criminal history based on county, state and federal records. Some states only provide information for the past seven years and juvenile records are unavailable.

These services conduct credit reports searching for financial stability, but bankruptcies prior to seven years will not appear.

Along with these aspects, companies that perform background checks will review social security records to determine where a candidate has lived for the past seven years. When checking past employment, these companies frequently only learn the dates of employment due to lawsuits from job seekers who received false or bad references. A background check company can also arrange for drug tests, which are included in 15 to 20 percent of all checks. Drug tests are common for jobs requiring operation of machinery or a motor vehicle. Executives are also frequently screened for drugs.

A background check company will verify education, including attendance, degrees, majors, and certifications earned. This process is often necessary, because applicants frequently falsify their education information, so these investigation services will look closely at the records.
These services will also check driving history, checking for license status, violations, suspensions, and other actions. This is an important item for any applicant for a position that involves operating a motor vehicle.

A top-notch screening company provides the information companies need quickly and accurately. The company should comply with all federal and state laws governing employment background checks, including the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

One of these companies should provide all the data needed to make a hiring decision in a timely manner. It should collect the most accurate data from primary sources. It should have a professional staff that can handle a heavy volume of service and offer the data online and via fax and phone.

You can find one of these services online that offers full-service investigations of job applicants, checking criminal histories, past employment, DMV history, credit reports, drug screening, and many other aspects.

Hiring decisions must be made with confidence, and business all over the country rely on background check companies to provide them with the information they need to make sound hiring decisions. Protect your business and perform background checks before you hire.