12 Elements To Review In Employee Background Checks

How to look beyond what you see during a virtual interview

When performing an employee background check, there are many things that you need to verify as an employer. 

This is crucial, whether you're hiring an office staff or a remote employee. Are you looking for someone to help you start a blog and manage it, for instance? You need to look beyond their skills and what you see during the virtual interview. 
 

Managing freelancers, although they work remotely, will be a lot easier if you hire people you can trust. 

Although character might not be relevant to the job description, it is still vital for a business. You don’t want to hire people with a criminal history or someone on the terror watch list. 

Although some ex-convicts can be given a chance for redemption, there are some things that you have to verify, such as legal papers, the capacity to work, and other documents like social security. 

What Is an Employee Background Check?

An employee background check is not only for checking if you are hiring a dangerous person; it is checking if the employee you are about to hire is someone that has the legal capacity to work and can be trusted. 

The screening process starts with a potential employee submitting an application form or resume. After that, you can now conduct an effective interview of people with the most impressive CVs. 

Most results that will come up in a background check are information that wouldn’t come during the job interview.

Why Is an Employee Background Check Necessary?

Aside from accidentally hiring someone on the sex offender or terror watch list, an employee background check is necessary to know a little more about the potential employee. 

An employee background check will also verify their education and prior work experience and character references. Basically, an employee background check will confirm if everything written on the application form or resume is, in fact, correct. 

Background checks are usually done when an applicant passes the initial screening process such as the interview. You wouldn’t want to waste resources on a candidate that isn’t promising. 

Here is a list of the elements you should review when conducting employee background checks:

#1 Social Security Validation

The first thing you should verify is if the applicant is really who they say they are. Identity theft is a real thing that happens on a regular basis, which is why doing a quick social security number trace should be the very first step. 

Doing this check will also verify if the potential employee is legal to work in the country. 

#2 Prior Employment Verification

It is easy to state that they have worked in the same field or have experience in the job they are applying for, but is it actually true?

For example in the e-commerce industry, an applicant may say anything like they know what a sales funnel is and how to use it. Is there data and figures to back this claim, 

#3 Drug Screening

Some industries require alcohol and drug testing. There are some things people can’t just do while under the influence of any substance such as operate machinery, drive a vehicle, and more. 

If this screening process is relevant for the job they are applying for, then you should definitely implement this background check in your policy. 

#4 Address History Check

Addresses might not matter in a remote job, but you can use this information to reveal local jurisdictions where criminal or sex offender background checks should be conducted. 

#5 Sex Offender Registry Check

Knowing if a potential employee is a registered sex offender is important if you want to avoid sexual misconduct in the workplace. Some people can still hire registered sex offenders to give them a chance, but at their own risk. 

#6 Credit Background Check

What does credit have to do with your job opening? Well, it is relevant to a job that relates to banking or financing. It will show you how an employee is responsible for their own finances before handling someone else’s.

If you need to do a credit background check, the largest agencies include Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. 

#7 Internet and Social Media Check

If you want to find out how an employee is like outside of work, doing a social media and quick internet search may reveal certain characteristics you may like or not like about a person. However, hiring an employee should not be based on a social media check entirely.

You can do this by checking their profiles on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or by doing a quick Google Search.  

#8 Professional License & Certificate Confirmation

Some jobs require certain licenses and certifications. Some applicants, although distasteful, will falsify or claim that they have these certificates, so it is a good idea to have them show you proof. 

For example, they might say that they have a certificate in SaaS and are well-versed in the platform’s content marketing strategies, so it is always best to ask for proof. 

#9 Reference Check

This step is to check an employee and call the people they listed as their references. It is best to ask them to list former employers, former teachers, and co-workers instead of relatives. 

#10 Education Verification

You can ask your applicants to submit their transcript of records to verify their education background. This step is especially important in jobs that require a certain degree of education. 

Even in an e-commerce business, it is best to hire employees with degrees in marketing, business, or information technology. If they’re skilled in using different e-commerce platforms and the strategies to boost sales, then you hit the jackpot. 

#11 Driving Record Check

This check is relevant for jobs that require driving and operating machinery. You don’t want to hire someone with a bad record such as a DUI or “at fault” driving accidents. 

#12 Criminal History Check

A criminal history check is one of the most important checks. You want to do this to ensure a candidate will not pose a threat to colleagues and customers. 
 

Things to Remember Before Doing an Employee Background Check

When doing an employee background check, you don’t have to do everything on the list above. Just make sure you get the relevant information that can affect your business. 

Also, remember to implement a strict policy, give candidates a little bit of time to fix their online pages, and make sure all the checks are legal. 

Hanson Cheng is the Founder of Freedom to Ascend. He empowers online entrepreneurs and business owners to 10x their businesses and become financially independent.  Visit Freedom To Ascend Connect Hanson Cheng Follow @HansonCheng