The idea of not judging a book by its cover has been around for quite a while. But nowadays, the expression means little more than a mere cliche. Be it as it may, it is imperative to take cognisance of this expression within the HR space – especially before confirming any candidate for an open position. Before making a hiring decision, it beckons on HR managers to scratch beyond the surface to be sure that their potential hires are truly who they appear to be on the surface level. In simple terms, you must make a habit of running employee background checks.
In a highly competitive market like ours, candidates tend to embellish certain aspects of their CVs. Where this isn’t the case, candidates could also ‘omit’ certain aspects of their education, work or personal history. Usually, these plots are done by applicants in order to make themselves appear more attractive to recruiters. While HR managers have the knowledge and experience to help them detect many of these gimmicks; the fact remains that only a background check would reveal the most sensitive ones amongst them.
A few notable advantages of running background checks are:
- They help avert the risks of negligent hiring
- They ensure that you employ only individuals who fit into the overall culture of your organization
- You get to employ the best and most qualified talents amongst tonnes of applicants
- Your organization enjoys a low turnover rate of employees, which would ultimately foster productivity.
Running adequate background checks on your prospective employees helps you to ascertain that you know who they really are before committing to a legal agreement with them. Moreso, background checks help you to ensure that there are no issues in your prospective employees’ past that could cause harm to other employees, or cause disrepute to your organization.
Before confirming an applicant’s offer, HR managers should verify every detail on the CV of a prospective employee. Details like employment history, the authenticity of certifications attained, as well as other claims that appear on an applicant’s CV must be verified.
Similarly, checks like criminal record check, identity verification, address verification, and guarantor checks should be carried out.
When a company makes a good hire, such an employee tends to improve productivity and give a boost to the brand of their organization. In the same vein, a bad hire could be detrimental to the image of an organization. On a minute scale, a bad hire can reduce the morale and productivity of your team, and can cause employee turnover rates to increase. On a larger scale, one bad hire can land your organization in a lawsuit with lots of unpleasant ripple effects.
Running adequate background checks on your employees would make you confident about the quality of your hire.
Considering the fact that the hiring landscape is a dynamic one; HR managers must understand that running background checks on prospective employees is no longer just an option. For employers who want the best talents on their payroll, running background checks on employees is a necessity. Employee background checks serve as a fortress for you when making critical hiring decisions.
Usually, employee background checks are conducted after selection tests have been conducted. At this point, it becomes imperative to conduct a background check on your potential employee. This check must be done before he or she starts on the job.
Would you like to know more about our employee check services? Call Dipo on 0703 719 5924, or send us an email via verify@klinsheet.com.