By thoroughly screening potential employees before they come on board, organizations can identify liabilities in prospective workers before they pose a threat to their organization. Criminal histories and falsely stated qualifications are just some of the crucial factors that can come to light through a well-executed background check.

So how to go about finding a background screening provider? Many organizations often seek out the cheapest background screening provider without fully understanding the disadvantages of doing so. All too often, these providers of background checks (who often create a false sense of security for their clients) rely on outdated, unproven resources to obtain information and faulty – and sometimes unethical or illegal – methods in preparing reports.

Searching for a background screening provider should be a careful, thorough process. There are a number of important characteristics you should seek out in a provider:

- Information sources – Reputable screening providers go straight to the source, procuring records from courthouses or record repositories, contacting employers and educational institutions directly, and probing licensing bodies for information on certifications or credentials. Any databases or online resources used by the provider should be compiled at the original source, updated on a continued basis, and regularly tested for inaccuracies or outdated information.

- Accuracy – Another key factor in better guaranteeing the information you receive on your applicants and employees is of the highest accuracy is to ensure your selected screening provider has an established quality assurance process in place. Investigators, data, and final reports should all be properly monitored with proven methodologies to reduce the likelihood of incomplete, outdated, or inaccurate information being released to you.

- Compliance –Information and methodologies should be completely compliant with all necessary national, state, province, local, and industry-specific laws and regulations, such as the U.S. Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) in Canada, and European data protection laws. Reliable employment screening providers procure information in strict accordance with these laws and regulations, reporting information that you can actually use to make legal and effective hiring decisions. The best screening providers have in-house legal counsel that monitor legislation to ensure their adherence to these regulations, as well as keeping you updated of such changes to better strengthen your organization’s compliance.

- International capabilities – Today’s world is increasingly multinational, as more people have lived, worked, or studied outside the country in which your organization is based. Your screening provider should be able to procure information on these individuals. Make sure you ask how they’re getting this information – through in-house resources or contracted third parties? A provider who professes international capabilities should also demonstrate extensive language expertise and knowledge of cultural protocols.

- Experience – The best background screening providers have lengthy histories of providing background information to their clients. You should look for a provider with at least five years of service – if not more. Don’t forget to ask for references, as track histories are important indicators of a provider’s reliability and record of customer service.

- Understanding of your industry - You should also be careful to work with a screening provider with numerous clients in your industry sector. This expertise will prove valuable in guiding you to decisions on who, what, and how to screen, as the company should have developed best practices through their experience serving organizations in your industry..

- Complementary services – As employers look to further manage their workforce risk through additional programs like drug testing, you should look for a screening provider that can provide a wide range of complementary services. This will provide you with a single source for key Human Resource initiatives such as substance abuse testing, employment physicals, and Form I-9 solutions.






Scott Viebranz is the Chief Sales Officer for the Background Screening division of Kroll. He is responsible for managing all aspects of business development, marketing, and client relations across the division’s global sales team, which operates in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Hong Kong, and more.


About Kroll
Kroll, the world’s leading risk consulting company, provides a wide range of investigative, intelligence, financial, security and technology services through offices in more than 65 cities in over 25 countries. Kroll is a subsidiary of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE: MMC), the global professional services firm.

Kroll’s Background Screening division provides organizations worldwide with comprehensive screening services that help them make empowered decisions and mitigate risks through industry-leading expertise and cutting-edge technology. The accurate, compliant, and timely information it supplies helps its clients make informed choices in critical areas such as employment, vendor selection, investment placement, institutional admissions, and data breach incident management – including identity theft solutions for individuals. For more information, visit http://www.krollbackgroundscreening.com.