Sunday, July 17, 2016

Ready to Hire? What Your Applicant Needs to Know!

Is Your Hiring Process as Easy and Stress-free as it could be?
Hiring is a stressful proposition ~ both for the employer and the applicant. Employers are concerned about having a good pool of applicants and then finding the right person for the job.

Job seekers are worried about finding the job they really want and need. They question whether anyone will even call them in for an interview, let alone offer them the job.  

While these fears are understandable, there is one additional thing that gives both job seekers and employers angst ~ and that is is the employment background check!

And when it comes to background checks, we believe that knowledge and open communication are the answer to quashing those fears.

Open Background Check Communication Starts with You, the Employer!  "Tweet This"

The best place for this open communication to start is with you, the employer!

You need to be completely up front about the following:
  • What You will Check
  • What You are looking for in the background check 
  • What Factors can Cause Delays in the Background Check 
  • What Errors can be encountered during the entire process 
  • What Rights are afforded to Your Applicant
What You will Check
The best place to start your explanation of the background check process is to discuss what you will be checking, and why.  

The scope of the screening should be something that you decide on long before even advertising your open position. That scope is best when it starts with a well thought out job description.

A good job description will help you determine exactly what skills and experience you need to fill your position. It will also help job seekers know whether  they will be a good fit with your company.

Find out more in “Job Descriptions ~ How to Write One and Why it is Important to Do it Right!”.

Beyond that, your job description will be invaluable in deciding  what you need to include in the background check. The job’s duties will be your guide.

You will need to consider the level of your position (hourly, salary, management), whether your hire will have access to company assets or sensitive data, and if they will they have direct contact with clients, customers, and other employees.

Answering these questions will help you decide on the scope your background check needs!

Find out more in “One Size Does Not Fit All ~ Why You Need to Fit the Background Check to the Job”.  

What You are Looking For
As an employer, it is wise to share with your applicant exactly what you are looking for when it comes to the background check. Knowing this in advance can go a long way towards alleviating their fears.

“This fear often arises out of a lack of understanding about what a background check really entails. Applicants are confused about what will be checked, worried about their privacy being compromised, and don’t know what an employer is really looking for!”; excerpt from “Are You Afraid of Background Checks?  They are Not as Scary as You Think!”.


Possible Delays
While usually the screening process runs smoothly, delays are possible. These road blocks most commonly occur when trying to verify education and employments. Often times the source is either unavailable or is not responding in a timely manner.

However, delays can also happen when it comes time to contact courts for criminal or civil records. Accuracy here is key, and it may be necessary to pull physical records to make sure they truly belong to your applicant.

No matter what the potential cause for delays may be, being proactive and sharing this information with your applicant makes sense.

Learn more in “The Life of a Background Check, Start to Finish” and “The Truth Behind Hiring ~ What Really Goes on When You Apply for a Job”.

Possible Errors
It is also important to explain to your applicant that errors are possible during the screening process.

Common names, court records missing critical identifying information (date of birth, social security number, etc.), identity theft, and records that have not been updated to include the disposition or an expungement are all cause for background check errors.  

Mistakes can also occur due to human error. Court record information can be entered incorrectly. Names, addresses, and other identifying information may be mistyped.  

No matter what the cause, the most important thing is for you to explain this possibility to your applicant upfront. You should then assure them that all care will be taken to be as accurate as possible.

Find out more about potential causes for screening errors in “The Truth Behind Background Checks” and “Background Checks and Online Databases ~ What You Need to Know


Applicant’s Rights
Finally, before you even begin the background check process, it is essential that you explain to your applicant that they have rights.

First and foremost, they have the right to know that a background check will be done. You must then obtain a signed release from your applicant and inform them, in writing, of their rights if negative information is found during the process.

Those rights include providing your applicant a copy of their background check report, along with contact information for the company that provided the report. Your applicant must be given a copy of these rights in writing.

In addition, your applicant has the right to mitigate or deny the negative findings. It is required that you assess this additional information before making your final hiring decision. The best way to accomplish this is through Individualized Assessments.

“Individualized Assessments are used when the background check on your applicant uncovers a criminal past that may keep you from hiring them. And when this happens, there are specific steps you must follow to be compliant with EEOC guidelines.”  

Find out more in “Individualized Assessments ~ What They are and Why You Need to Use Them in Your Small Business”!

Preparing your applicants for the Hiring and Background Check process will go a long way towards creating a positive first impression about You and Your Company.
It will also make hiring the best candidate much smoother…and isn’t that your ultimate goal?


Need Help Hiring in Your Small Business? Contact UsWe will guide you in creating a Hiring Policy that works for You!


Authored by  

Visit our About Us and our Hiring and Business Mentoring pages to find out more! Also be sure to Subscribe to our blog for one articles focused on Small Business Tips and News!

No comments:

Post a Comment

Thanks for visiting our website. Contact Us! We can answer your questions and offer you a consultation on how we can help You with your Hiring, Business, and Security Needs!

We also invite you to Subscribe. Just leave your email and you will get one new article each month with tips and information focused on You and Your Business!