One of the questions we are asked most frequently at GroupOne Background Screening is what types of background checks should always be performed? Whether you are a small or large business, investment in a good candidate screening process can improve the quality of your “new hires” by as much as 70 percent.

We decided to provide a helpful list of crucial background checks businesses should always perform on any new hire. As unemployment has gone down over the past several months, hiring has become a challenge for businesses of every size. Proper background checks will save your business time, money and, most importantly, allow you to fill your positions with quality talent.

Reference Checks
This is one of the biggest foundations of the background screening process. Reference checks give businesses a good idea of who they are considering since past performance dictates future expectations. Watch for the “red flag” when candidates include a reference but ask you not to contact that person. What’s the point of including a reference if you can’t give them a call? Most states have laws governing what can and cannot be disclosed during reference checks and GroupOne knows each of them. For industries like healthcare, education and childcare, reference checks should be stringent and comprehensive.

Work and Education Verification
Business owners want to be sure the information provided by a candidate is truthful, but they also need to be aware of the relevant laws. Businesses need to be familiar with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and other laws at the local, state or federal level that are designed to protect candidates. The FCRA has multiple requirements including getting a signed consent from the candidate. GroupOne is a consumer reporter agency and thus, this is our area of expertise.

Criminal Records
A check of criminal records should always be mandatory, as oftentimes we uncover unknown past arrests as well as warrants and pending charges. Medical organizations and government agencies as well as any business handling large amounts of money will need to check criminal records for obvious reasons. Pay for these checks now or you will likely have to pay much more later.

Driver’s License Verification
If you’re a business with employees delivering or driving while “on the clock,” verifying the validity of their driver’s license is crucial. Checking their driving records is also a necessity.

Drug Testing
Timing and sequence is everything when it comes to a complete background check. Employers should make an offer always contingent on passing a drug test. However, you cannot issue a request for a drug test until a conditional offer is actually made to the candidate.

For questions on any of these background checks, please do not hesitate to contact us at GroupOne.