12 Tips for Better Background Screening in the New Year

Background screening is a crucial step in the hiring process. It helps ensure that you're hiring the right people for the right jobs. However, it's important to do it right. Here are 12 tips to help you improve your background screening process in the new year:

1. Know Your Needs: Before you start the screening process, determine what information you need to make informed hiring decisions. This will help you tailor your background checks to your specific needs.
2. Check Your State and Local Laws: Laws regarding background checks vary from state to state and even from city to city. Ensure you're compliant with all applicable laws.
3. Get Clear Consent: Always obtain clear and written consent from candidates before conducting a background check.
4. Use a Reputable Background Screening Provider: Partner with a reputable background screening provider like Mitratech to ensure accurate and reliable results.
5. Be Consistent: Apply the same background check standards to all candidates, regardless of their position or department.
6. Consider the Nature of the Job: The background check level you need will vary depending on the job. For example, a job that involves handling sensitive information may require a more extensive background check than a general office position.
7. Review and Update Your Policies Regularly: Review and update your background check policies regularly to ensure they comply with the latest laws and regulations.
8. Be Mindful of Adverse Action: If you decide not to hire a candidate based on a background check, be sure to follow the appropriate legal procedures for adverse action.
9. Consider Ban-the-Box Laws: Many states and cities have "ban-the-box" laws that restrict when employers can ask about criminal history.
10. Verify Information: Don't rely solely on the information provided by the candidate. Verify information through multiple sources.
11. Train Your Hiring Managers: Train your hiring managers on how to interpret background check results and how to make hiring decisions based on the information.
12. Document Everything: Keep detailed records of all background checks, including the dates, the information obtained, and the decisions made.

By following these tips, you can improve the quality of your background screening process and reduce your risk of hiring the wrong person.