Although background screening is commonly done in the UK, particularly in sectors like financial services, it’s also performed in Countries like Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. It is an effective way of verifying information provided by applicants on their applications.
Employment History
Employment history checks are verification that the candidate was working for companies in the positions as specified on their CV or the application form. The scope of such a test can vary between the different cases as some employers will only necessitate verification of the most recent jobs, whereas others require confirmations for a defined time, for instance, five years. Hiring a person who is under-qualified for a position on your team could pose reputational as well as financial risks to the company.
Criminal Record Check
The UK has three primary criminal record checks, which include, basic, standard as well as enhanced DBS checks. The enhanced DBS check can only be done for specific roles, for instance, where an applicant’s job necessitates contact with vulnerable adults or children. Such a test is vital since it allows the employer to assess whether the applicant’s criminal record could pose a potential risk.
Education and Academic
Educational checks are performed for verifying an applicant’s academic history, checking institutions, grades, and courses mentioned on their CV or application form. Such checks are done by contacting the institutions itself with an information verification request.
Identity document
Online Background screening solutions is a viable and convenient way of requesting verification checks on an employee. Identification document authentication is generally done by checking machine-readable passport information against identity information provided by an applicant. If a passport can’t be presented, an ID card or UK driver’s license is also acceptable forms of verification. However, eligibility of national ID cards may vary from one country to the next. Making sure that an applicant is in fact, who they say they are is an essential requirement during the pre-hire screening procedure. Employing someone who is not who they claim to be, can pose a significant risk to your business.
Membership checking and employment qualification
Employment credentials and memberships are regularly checked to make sure that applicants have the necessary qualifications and skills required for the job they are applying for. Such qualifications are examined at the source, either by online verification process or contacting the institutions directly. For specific positions, it may be a necessity that the applicant is a member of particular membership organizations, and if these sources are not verified, you may be hiring an unsuitable candidate. For EU nations, various EPSO tests are used to determine applicants’ qualifications and skills.
Pre-employment credit check
This type of check is done to verify whether an applicant has an excellent financial standing, and it highlights any adversarial information recorded against the applicant, subject to availability of information. Internationally, such a check is only permitted in certain jurisdictions. This check is predominant for jobs within the financial sector and might not be appropriate or proportional for applicants in other posts.
Director background checks
Another essential part of screening for board-level applicants is a director background check. However, some companies have people on their board that has never undergone a background screen.