Employers who “background” their employees significantly reduce their hiring risks. Background checks help avoid workplace violence, protect against lawsuits and damages, reduce employee theft and fraud, uncover application falsification, make the right hire the first time and—as a result of all this—improve the bottom line.
Employee backgrounding is simple, inexpensive, legal and ethical when properly done.
A background check, or application verification, validates a candidate’s information on an application using independent sources such as prior employers, educational institutions, criminal and civil court records and credit reports. A background check starts where references stop.
Cost for a background check is typically $35.00 to $500.00 per candidate. Fees vary according to number of information sources checked and the cost of accessing the information and sources.
Turnaround time is usually less than five (5) working days but is determined by information sources checked. Some information sources, such as credit reports and social security checks are on-line and immediately available; others – such as state and federal agencies – respond only to requests by mail and may take weeks to reply. In some circumstances background checks require notification to or approval from the subject individual. We’ll discuss as part of the Background request process.
Types of Backgrounds
Pre-Employment
Pre-Employment screening is appropriate not just for new hires, but also for promotions where the new position is a significant improvement in the type or scope of responsibility. There are two types of pre-employment backgrounds:
Applicant Verification Report
This report reveals the types of disqualifying information an applicant seldom volunteers. Criminal (felony and misdemeanor) and civil records can be verified on a local and/or national scale. Typically an Applicant Verification background check includes:
- Social Security Number Trace
- County Criminal Records
- Employment Verification
- Education Verification
- Professional License Verification
- DMV Records
Civil & Federal Records
Here are two additional categories of legal and criminal background check elements:
- County Civil (Upper Courts) Records
- Federal Criminal Records
You may include one or both of these categories in your Applicant Verification background check order. They are standard elements of a Management Level Verification.
Management Report
This report includes additional information appropriate for management positions. Typically a Management Level background check includes:
- All of the Applicant Verification elements plus:
- Credit Report
- County Civil Records
- Federal Criminal and Civil
- Personal References Verification
- Internet Web Page Search
- Online Social Networks Search
There are also two optional elements of pre-employment backgrounds.
Special Credentials
Here are two commonly requested special credential background background check categories:
- Security Clearances
- Higher Education Requirements
You may include one or both of these categories in your background check order.
Special Background Elements
Here are two special background check elements:
- State Sex Offender Registry
- Child Abuse Index
You may include one or both of these elements in your background check order.
Business Backgrounds
Before hiring a vendor or creating a partnership, conducting a business background will provide a complete picture of the company and individuals who own and operate the business.
Business Background Checks
Business Background checks include the following elements:
- Corporate Records
- Fictitious Business Names
- Civil Records (County and Federal)
- Better Business Bureau
- Professional License Verification
- Dunn and Brad Report
- Online and Newspaper Searches
Click to order a Business Background Check
Call to discuss your specific needs or to explore options, and let our highly trained and qualified staff help you accomplish your objectives.
