A Better Candidate Experience: How Your Background Check Can Help You Earn All-Star Ratings from Job Seekers

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!)

To maintain a strong brand reputation among applicants, consider these pieces to develop a five-star worthy background check processes.

Candidate-centric technology sets the tone

To truly provide a first-class applicant experience, consider adding an easy-to-use, self-service background check platform, replacing paper applications and unifying the candidate experience under your flagship brand. Providing candidates with a quick, transparent background check application could improve their experience by potentially making the hiring process faster, easier and more accessible.

For example, Verified Credentials’ Candidate Verification Center (CVC) allows candidates to enter their own information for the background check order themselves. They go to your custom landing page, fill in the required fields, sign the forms digitally and they’re done. The system provides benefits for both candidates and HR professionals.

For candidates, the platform guides them step-by-step as they provide information required for the background check, and it cuts down on the time required to complete the process. In fact, a 2019 Verified Credentials user report found that candidates who use the CVC spend an average of only 11.7 minutes completing necessary forms. The less time they have to spend dealing with background checks, the happier they’re likely to be.

For companies, the CVC can be customized to reflect your corporate brand, allowing you to own the experience. But overall, a streamlined background check process could tell candidates that your company is organized, invests in technology, values their time and cares about their experience. That’s a strong impression to make on a candidate, and one they will likely remember when reviewing your company online or in conversations with colleagues.

Set, manage, and exceed candidates’ expectations

When it comes to applying for jobs, nobody likes surprises. So, if you’re able to set expectations for the background check process early on, your candidates are more likely to have a good experience. For example, clearly communicating which materials and information they will need to complete the background check (resume, driver’s license, professional license info, etc.) may make them feel more prepared and comfortable with the process.

And when it comes to the background check process, setting realistic expectations on what the candidate can expect may ease anxieties they might have. Give them a timeline that includes when they will receive an email with a link to start the screening process, estimated turnaround time once information is submitted, and how long they can expect before you follow up. If candidates have a solid understanding and expectation of what the background check process will entail, they’re more likely to have a positive experience.

Communication is everything

Communicating well with candidates can make a huge difference in how they perceive your company. Unfortunately, many companies struggle with this concept. According to a 2016 survey by CareerArc, 65% of applicants never or rarely heard back from a company they applied to. That can leave a bad taste in a candidate’s mouth, to say the least.

To form a more positive experience, you may want to keep communication channels open, and that includes background checks. You can send updates – from individual emails to automated alerts – that bring transparency to the process, which could alleviate concerns from applicants and help you improve the experience overall.

Word travels fast these days. To protect your brand’s reputation in the market, you should try to provide the best candidate experience possible. When it comes to background screening, effectively leveraging technology, setting expectations and maintaining open lines of communication, can impress candidates and earn all-star reviews.

Ready to enhance your candidate experience? Contact Verified Credentials today to see how our cutting-edge solutions can help make your company the top-rated choice for job seekers.