The importance of employment background checks
When an organisation is in the middle of hiring new talent, they want to make sure that they are attracting the perfect candidate. Background checks can be a great way of finding out more about a potential candidate and make hiring managers more confident when making the final decision.
Take a look below to learn four reasons why employment background checks are essential.
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Job Competence
A pre-employment background check is a simple way to understand whether a candidate is suitable for the role. Additionally, it gives employers the chance to double-check if the CV is accurate and that the candidates haven't lied to get noticed. A survey conducted by Checkster found that 78% of job seekers have lied or have thought about lying to help improve their chances of being successful.
Employers can contact an applicant's references and previous place of work and educational institutions to double-check that the information being provided is all correct.
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Data Security
No matter what industry or sector they operate in, every organisation must comply with GDPR and other data security acts. Research has found that half of data breaches are conducted internally and not by outside hackers. These types of attacks mean that all of your customers' data is at risk, along with every employee within the organisation. If data has been stolen, there is a strong possibility that it will be sold to third-party organisations that will either impersonate you or send you marketing communications.
By conducting a background check or, more specifically, a criminal record check, you will be able to see if they have had any previous convictions related to data security and if they have, then you can remove them from the recruitment process.
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Protect your workforce and organisation
All employers and business owners are responsible for everyone within the organisation. This includes staff members, business partners, board members and customers. An employment background check can help to identify if a potential candidate has had any previous issues with unprofessional behaviour. Spotting this and implementing a strict zero-tolerance policy for bullying, racism, sexual harassment, and threatening behaviour will help protect your workforce and organisation and ultimately create a space where everyone feels safe and secure.
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Legal Compliance
Organisations that are not compliant with the rules and regulations created and implemented by different government bodies is a real issue and can cause reputational damage. One example of this is the right to work in the UK. If you fail to conduct comprehensive background checks and employ someone who isn't eligible for work, you could be penalised and face a fine of up to £20,000.
Final thoughts
Conducting background checks when you are looking to hire new talent can help you avoid employing anyone unskilled and underqualified for the role. Additionally, you can pass on any untrustworthy candidates as they will do more damage than good.
If you are struggling in hiring the best talent for your organisation, we are here to help. At The Talent Hub, our team of expert account managers can help find the best candidates for you by building your own dedicated talent pool, creating job adverts and CV screening, all at a fraction of traditional recruitment costs.
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