Using Your Background Checks To Make The Best Hire

Most employers consider the background check a necessary evil -- they know they need to have one to ensure that the applicant is exactly who they claim to be. After basic information is verified, these employers often ignore the rest of the information that's available. They're either afraid of violating a hiring law or they're just not interested in the data.

This is a significant mistake. Using the data from a background check effectively is critical to hiring the best applicant for a job. To understand how this can work to improve your hiring practices, you'll need to understand a few key points.

Key Point #1 -- Make Comparisons

One of the key points to consider when working with data is the notion of triangulation. Essentially, a single data point can never verify itself -- you need multiple sources of data for that. By using the background check with other sources of data, you can be almost certain that your perceptions of the applicant are justified.

For example, the data in a background check can often verify statements made in a resume, reference letter, or personal statement. This becomes even more powerful when you use additional sources, such as social media. The combination of all these sources will almost always paint a clearer picture than a single data point ever could.

Key Point #2 -- Look For Trends

If people were always judged by their biggest mistake or their worst failure, it'd be difficult to hire anyone. As a result, it's important to look at data from a historical context. That is, how does this applicant typically conduct themselves over time?

Have their last few positions and locations been stable? Have their performance and behavior been high quality over a significant time period? Ask yourself these questions, and you might find a fantastic candidate that a screening technique would have eliminated due to a prior issue.

Key Point #3 -- Start Conversations

You might have reservations about an applicant as a result of their background check. However, the issue might not be so major as to rule them out. This is an ideal time to contact the prospective employee and give them a chance to explain themselves.

Often, these conversations can reveal character and strength that might not have come through in the interview. Other times, the answer given confirms your suspicions. Either way, you've put yourself in a position to make an educated choice and have also given the candidate a chance to explain themselves -- both are positive outcomes.

An employee background check from a company like AccuChex is more than just a tool for legal compliance. If you use them correctly, the data can serve as a powerful decision-making tool that will help strengthen your business and your hiring practices.

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