Background Screening Blog

The requirements and obligations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) can be challenging to navigate, even for the most seasoned employer. Any employer that uses a professional background screening company like Verified Credentials to get a background report (called a “Consumer Report” under the FCRA) on applicants or employees is likely subject to the FCRA.

Topics: Employment Background Checks, Compliance, FCRA, FTC

Today, the entire world is under review. People won’t step foot in a restaurant without first checking Yelp, they’ll only see movies certified “fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes, and they give their Uber drivers a score as soon as they step out of the car. It seems we’ve applied a five-star scale to every aspect of our lives, including career opportunities. In fact, nearly 3 out of 4 job seekers admit to sharing negative experiences with their social connections. Job hunters begin judging companies and forming opinions even before starting the application process. That means employers and HR professionals need to provide the best possible candidate experience if they hope to attract top talent, and when it comes to background checks that might mean: Leveraging technology to make a seamless user experience Preparing candidates for what lies ahead Staying connected with applicants (No ghosting here!)

Topics: Employment Background Checks, Candidate Self-Service, Candidate Experience

Children are using iPads in schools, artificial intelligence is changing the way we work, and nobody can seem to look up from their smartphone, ever. We are in a golden age of transformative technological advancements. As a result, the Bureau of Labor Statistics states the technology workforce is pacing for a 13 percent growth by 2026, creating high demand for tech talent. Building a talented and qualified tech force that mitigates risk for the misuse of data and technology is no small job, and the competition has led many technology companies to adopt a unique approach to conducting background checks. Here’s what makes the industry different and why you might want to consider a similar approach, no matter what industry you’re in.

Topics: Employment Background Checks, Government Watch List, Technology Industry

The weather is warm, the flowers are in bloom, and the sun is shining. The return of summer means wedding season is upon us once again. For family and friends, there’s nothing like seeing two people who are perfect for each other come together to start a new chapter in their lives. For HR professionals ordering background checks, there’s a different kind of union that can be just as important: the marriage between product and scope. Just like a successful marriage depends on two people working together, what comes up on a background check depends on the product and scope working in harmony. Let’s take a closer look at why this relationship is so important and what you can do to make sure you and your background check process live happily ever after.

Topics: Employment Background Checks, National Criminal Database Search, Federal Criminal History Search, ID Trace, Driving Records, Background Check Scope

Same as it ever was… It’s amazing how easy it is to overlook screening packages, often kept at status quo year after year. We surveyed HR professionals during a recent webinar, revealing the last time they reviewed their background screening program structure - and it wasn’t just yesterday. The survey showed that 2 out of 3 HR professionals admitted it has been a few years or longer since they evaluated screening packages.

Topics: Employment Background Checks, Background Check Packages

There’s a lot of fluctuating information out there about background checks. And it’s common for even the most experienced HR leader to be confused or misinformed about various aspects. Unfortunately, misunderstandings can lead to decision making that isn’t based on reliable data. To combat misinformation, we compiled a list of nine myths we’ve often heard from HR professionals about background checks. Some of the truths won’t surprise you – but you may find that some widely held beliefs aren’t entirely accurate.

Topics: Employment Background Checks, Recurring Screening, National Criminal Database Search, National Sex Offender Registry, ID Trace

Let’s take a quick count – how many individual login pages do you visit on a frequent basis at work? On top of your organization’s internal systems, you may have a wide range of platforms specific to your HR role including payroll applications, background check dashboards, employee benefits systems, and more. This can result in feeling of disjointed hiring, onboarding, and employee maintenance workflows – not to mention so many open browser windows. But many organizations have already figured out there are ways to simplify some of these with single sign-on solutions through integrations. One common way this is done is through integrating background checks with your ATS.

Topics: ATS Integration, Efficiency, Employment Background Checks, Candidate Experience

Spring is in full bloom and it’s a great time for spring cleaning and maintenance. During this season, so many of us take time to give our homes a refresh, get annual checkups, or detail our vehicles – all to prepare for the summer sunshine ahead. Maintenance in your HR world is just as important. Insurance renewals, refresher training courses, tax and marriage status updates, performance appraisals. Updating employee documents is just part of it. The idea of employee maintenance and updates carries over to background screening practices too by updating employee background checks. Recurring screening solutions may help address critical fail points that could occur if staff are left unchecked for long stretches, including: Recent disciplinary actions, offenses, or crimes. Change in licensure status, including an expired professional or driver’s license. Reports of federal system abuse, or worse.

Topics: Employment Background Checks, Recurring Screening

In part one of our series discussing visible signs of effective background checks, we highlighted how itemized invoices might indicate the overall result of a program. By looking beyond using a bill for payment purposes, you can get details on how broad your background checks really go. Now we will take a look at how these areas may signify the effectiveness of a background screening program:  Management reports from your screening partner Your final background check results

Topics: Employment Background Checks, Employment Verifications, Academic Verifications, Technology

If you were tasked with putting together an elite racing team, you’d scour the globe for the best drivers. You’d put them through rigorous tests, checking their driving skills in multiple environments. You’d examine their speed, their safety record and their ability to remain calm under pressure. But chances are you’re not looking to build a team of drivers anytime soon. In fact, you might not have any driving positions at all. So, when candidates apply to your company, you probably don’t even think about checking their driving record, let alone their lap times on a closed track.

Topics: Employment Background Checks, Driving Records