Background Screening Industry News and Blog by Screening Intelligence

Employment Screening Trends For 2018 And Beyond

August 23, 2018 by screeningintel Leave a Comment

Recruiting, hiring and onboarding – also known as human capital management – undergoes trends just like any other area. Business owners and hiring managers should be aware of the employment screening trends and industry changes so that they can anticipate them and take appropriate action.

Employment Screening Trends

Here is where employment screening trends are headed for the remainder of 2018 and beyond:

Regulations and Compliance

Compliance plays a significant role in employment screening, and this will continue going forward as laws change and evolve. The year 2017 brought a focus on “ban the box” laws growing in popularity as well as salary history bans. The legalization of marijuana in many states has already changed policies related to drug screening, and this employment screening trend is set to continue. In many cases, employers are not allowed to look into an applicant’s criminal past until the point in the job interview process where a conditional offer has been made.

Drug Screening

Non-medical use of prescription pills and drugs in the opiate class continues to be a problem in our country, although the Trump administration is actively taking steps to address this issue on many fronts. Meanwhile, testing for these drugs will continue to be a priority as part of employment screening, with exact requirements varying from state to state. Opiate pain killers are the second-most used drug in the U.S. after marijuana, which is now legal for recreational and/or medical use in 29 states.

The “Gig” (On Demand) Economy

The gig economy continues to grow, with many offering services via applications and portals on their smartphone. Companies like Uber, Lyft, TaskRabbit and Handy connect workers with paying jobs, or “gigs.” Expect employment screening trends and background check trends of their products and services to evolve accordingly to assist these industries and meet changing demands for screening related to these roles.

Mobile “Smart” Technology for Background Screening

The rapid evolution of technology is also affecting the industry with employment screening trends. Just as in many other areas, mobile applications and responsive portals are streamlining the employment screening process. Candidate portals allow for a more efficient, seamless screening process from a mobile device.

HRIS Integration

Employment screening trends beyond 2018 will also facilitate flexibility and integration with background screening applications and business ATS systems. This will facilitate eliminating manual processes and streamlining hiring workflows. Duplicate data entry will be eliminated, allowing for a more seamless process with existing HRIS systems.

Influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Additional employment screening trends for new programs and tools going forward will assist HR departments with background checks, managing worker performance, rewards and company culture. Industry experts predict AI will make employment screening more far more efficient and accurate. This is crucial as the market speeds up and the need for hiring and onboarding the top talent quickly accelerates in our country and the world. For international hiring, processing in multiple languages will be facilitated with AI.

Employment screening trends in 2017 saw compliance laws change and both technology and the marketplace change dramatically. Businesses can expect these employment screening trends to continue well beyond 2018. However, what hasn’t fundamentally changed is the value and importance of employment background screening to a successful hiring process.

Disclaimer Statement: All information presented is never intended as legal advice and is for information purposes only.

Source: http://fortune.com/2017/05/19/ai-changing-jobs-hiring-recruiting/

6 Innovative Employment Screening Ideas

July 19, 2018 by screeningintel Leave a Comment

Innovative employment screening has become integrated into the hiring processes of many companies. They understand the value of innovative employment screening and background checks in connecting with the best workers to add to their staff.

Innovative Employment Screening

In addition to compliant employment background screening that includes criminal checks and a credit check, employers should consider the following alternative innovative employment screening ideas:

100-Words-Or-Less Cover Letters

Instead of the traditional full page cover letter included with applicant resumes, consider requesting that they explain why they want to work for you in 100 words or less. They will likely appreciate the forced brevity and creativity, and employers can save time while getting focused insights about each candidate.

Video Introduction

Consider requesting a “video resume” or introduction along with a traditional resume. This can be especially helpful when screening for positions that will require the individual to become a public face for a company. However, it can also reveal personal and professional traits ahead of time for all candidates to help employers determine if they would like to proceed further with a candidate.

Real Company Problem Interview Question

Employers might also work a current relevant question that the company is facing into the job interview. Even if the solution is not viable, it will allow for insights into the candidate’s problem-solving abilities and yield insights that show if they could be a fit in the business culture.

Industry Track Interview Questions

Ask applicants industry specific questions to see how engaged they are with current conditions and potential futures. One example question might be, “What one factor is most likely to disrupt our industry in the next year?” or “How would you solve X issue facing our industry?” This will show the candidate’s true interest and passion for the field as well as the company’s future.

Job Simulation

As part of the innovative employment screening process, employers should consider having applicants demonstrate proficiency in one or two aspects of the role for which they are applying. A simulated sales call or office task are just a couple of examples. Give them a fair amount of training and see how they perform in a simulated work scenario.

Include Current Staff in the Interviewing Process and Innovative Employment Screening Process

If company culture and effective teams are important to a role, consider including key staff members in the interviewing process and innovative employment screening process. Alternatively, the candidate could be walked around the office following the interview to meet the people with whom they would be working. Chemistry is key in the workplace, and having the input of staff can be very enlightening in the decision making process.

Innovative employment screening is key to smart, effective hiring. A professional employment screening service can assist with determining if a candidate has a criminal past or problems with their credit history. The innovative employment screening ideas discussed here can assist with getting a more well-rounded assessment of each candidate so that truly informed hiring decisions can be made.

Source: https://recruitloop.com/blog/11-innovative-screening-techniques/

Disclaimer Statement: All information presented is never intended as legal advice and is for information purposes only.

6 Ways to Tell If a Candidate is Lying On a Resume or Job Interview

June 5, 2018 by screeningintel Leave a Comment

Numerous surveys have found that the majority of job applicants admit to lying on their resumes and during a job interview. At the very least, they have exaggerated or embellished their accomplishments. The misrepresentation takes place at all levels, even the most senior.

Job Interview

What’s even more troubling for employers is that around 80 percent of applicants say that their lies went undetected. So, how can hiring managers be sure that a candidate is telling the truth on their resume or during the job interview?

Here are six ways to spot a lie, exaggeration or resume fraud during a job interview:

1. Verify Education

Lies about how educational level attained are among the most common. Some applicants will go so far as to say they received a degree from a university they never attended. In other cases, they may add a degree or change the actual major they received to fit the position applied for. Still others will list flimsy degrees received from diploma mills. An Education Verification through a background screening company or in some cases a call to the institution can verify that the student actually attended as well as the veracity of the degree.

2. Verify Employment Dates and Title/Job Role

Lies related to employment are the most common type of deception on resumes and when answering job interview questions. The only way to confirm this information is by calling their former employers. While there may be limits regarding how much the employer will be willing to reveal, you can at least verify that they worked there, their job duties and the dates of employment.

3. Follow Up with References

While many employers ask for references, many do not use these resources to find out more about the candidate. Don’t pass up this opportunity to gain more insights about an applicant, especially if you are unsure about their character or if something during the job interview or about their story does not add up.

4. Enlist a Professional Employment Screening Service

Lies related to criminal history or reliability with finances can be among the most problematic when considering a candidate. All jobs require a strong measure of trustworthiness, but for some positions it is imperative that the person hired does not have a criminal past. Using the services of a professional background screening service allows for checks into criminal history search and with some job positions, pulling a credit report to determine financial history.

5. Look At Their Social Media Accounts

A check of a candidate’s social media accounts can yield additional insights into their employment track record as well as more about their personality. Employers can get a better sense of if they have portrayed themselves truthfully on their resume and in the job interview. Just be sure to treat each candidate consistently if you conduct social media screening.

6. Use Intuition

As employers and hiring managers gain experience, they will develop an increasingly refined intuition. Be on the lookout for vague or general answers and body language that indicates deception.

A lack of honesty on an application or during a job interview can threaten an employer’s ability to find the best candidates. Use these six tips to determine truthfulness and verify qualifications.

Source: http://time.com/money/3995981/how-many-people-lie-resumes/

Disclaimer Statement: All information presented is never intended as legal advice and is for information purposes only.

5 reasons why you need to do a pre-employment background search

May 15, 2018 by screeningintel Leave a Comment

According to a survey carried out by the Society for Human Resources Management, about 69% of organizations conduct a criminal pre-employment background search on their potential employees. Though this may help in finding criminal records, it goes a long way in assisting the employer in knowing whether the applicants are proficient and competent for the positions they are applying for. Some organizations carry out their own background checks for any of the following reasons:

To fulfill state legislation that requires them to do so and therefore avoid legal liabilities
Lack of knowledge or enough resources to hire an independent firm to do it for them
They have the resources and knowledgeable manpower to perform their own pre-employment background search.

Outsourcing the pre-employment background search is however imperative as most of these screening firms have a criminal database search and court researchers to access any county in the USA to pull county criminal checks to ensure information accuracy.

Here are the top 5 reasons you should perform a pre-employment background search:

It lowers employee turnover

The hiring of employees is a tedious and time-consuming process not to mention that it is risky. Accurate evaluation of potential employees based on the resumes they submit and consequent interviews is a gamble. Some screening firms offer tests to candidates that are tailored to the company’s specific needs. These evaluate aptitude and skills for the specific job. By providing additional information on the employee, a pre-employment background search helps ensure a good hire.

It highlights past violations that might hamper the employee’s performance

Credit history and driving records are not indicated on resumes and candidates might be unwilling to willingly divulge such information. Though these may not affect every employee, this information is absolutely relevant if the candidate will be handling money or driving.

It gives a clear perspective of the applicant

Any job hunter goes out of their way to charm the interviewer by being professional and friendly. In most cases, this extends to the resume with candidates excluding certain jobs or adding others so that they are deemed fit for the position they are applying for. Screening cuts through this façade and aids in deciding in whether this person is fit to hire.

Helps uphold workplace balance

New employees can destabilize the existing workforce if they are unable to blend in and work as a team or have poor work ethics. A comprehensive pre-employment screening can help determine the right candidate.

It saves resources

Hiring is a long, expensive and stressful process. Pre-employment screening saves time and money. Employers with a huge number of applicants can speed up the interviewing process. For all these reasons, employers should hire pre-employment screening firms to conduct their background checks.

Disclaimer Statement: All information presented is never intended as legal advice and is for information purposes only.

5 Essential Tips For Streamlining the Employment Screening Process

April 26, 2018 by screeningintel Leave a Comment

As the economy continues to heat up, companies are finding themselves with a steadily increasing requirement for talented staff. This growing need is causing some human resource managers to expedite the hiring and onboarding process – and in some cases, cut corners to the detriment of the employment screening process. However, it’s extremely important to assess all applicants thoroughly to help ensure the very best hiring decisions are made.

Employment Screening Process

As with most facets of business, it’s important to find a balance between being both thorough and efficient. The following are five essential tips for expediting the employment screening process in a way that ensures it will be highly effective:

1. Define What You Need

What’s required in terms of employment screening for each department and position? Mapping out the type of screening required for each job that must be filled in the company is essential in ensuring the checklist is thoroughly addressed. For example, persons applying for jobs that require handling financial data and funds should undergo a credit check. A professional employment screening company can assist in determining the right screening types for each job role.

2. Standardize the Employment Screening Process

Every company should create an employment screening process that can be used consistently for each candidate. The employment screening process should be tested and fine-tuned over time for efficiency, thoroughness and effectiveness. When an employment screening process is set and standardized, each candidate can be moved through it more quickly and efficiently. This results in less frustration and fewer incidents of loss of ideal workers due to impatience during a slow or inefficient hiring process.

3. Know the Law

The employment screening process should also be created in compliance with state and federal laws related to background checks and employment screening. Conducting background checks in a way that is not in compliance with regulations can lead to litigation from applicants and possible negligent hiring suits from staff or clients down the road. Consulting with a professional employment screening company can assist with ensuring that all screening is conducted in full compliance with the law.

4. Communication with Candidates

Keeping applicants engaged and informed in the screening and background check process is also extremely helpful in expediting their experience. This allows each candidate to know their role and responsibility in the process ahead of time. This can assist with minimizing delays on their end and ensuring that everyone is on the same page throughout every phase of the employment screening process.

5. Partner with an Experienced Background Screening Professional

Outsourcing as many elements of your employment background screening as possible is another key way to expedite the employment screening process. A proven, experienced background check provider can help fulfill your screening requirements in an efficient, effective manner. Employers can rest assured that all screening will be conducted in a manner that is in compliance with state as well as federal laws related to background checks.

In an economy that keeps getting stronger, more talented workers are required to fill key roles. However, the need for thorough, effective employment screening is just as relevant as ever before. Employers and hiring managers can use these five tips to streamline the employment screening process so the very best workers can be efficiently hired.

Disclaimer Statement: All information presented is never intended as legal advice and is for information purposes only.

Employment Screening Trends For 2018 And Beyond