Background checking is an essential part of the recruitment process, without it you expose your business, staff and clients to unnecessary risk. In addition, carrying out background checks helps ensure the right hire for the position first time round, reducing the possibility of having to go through a costly recruitment process again.
While advances in technology have reduced the average time to complete background checking to as little as 2-5 days, it can still seem slow and cumbersome, particularly when speed is of the essence and fast recruitment and onboarding is essential.
But depending on the position you are hiring for, you can reduce your time to hire by carrying out essential checks while waiting for other checks to be complete.
An identity check is the most important check and should be carried out first. This check can be near instant but is essential because all other checks are based on it.
The Right to Work check ensures that the candidate has the right to work in the UK. In order to satisfy compliance this check must be carried out for all candidates whether they were born in the UK or not. And with fines of up to £20,000 per worker, missing this check can be a costly mistake.
Employment verification checks are often more complicated and can take longer to complete. It makes sense to get this check started quickly to allow time for previous employers to respond. Similarly, education and professional qualification checks should also be requested promptly, with schools and universities taking time to reply. This may be extended even further during academic holidays when institutions might be unmanned.
Global watch list checks search databases of potential terrorists, fraud practitioners and anyone facing sanctions, this check is usually completed within 48 hours.
Criminal record checks can be the slowest to complete depending on where in the world you are hiring, the candidates place of origin and the level of check required. In the UK, criminal records checks are carried out by DBS in England and Disclosure Scotland. Checks in the UK can take anywhere from 2 hours to 8 weeks but checks outside the UK can take even longer.
A specialist screening provider will ensure that checks are carried out in the right order for the fastest possible results. Veremark can advise on the right checks for your position and help reduce your time to hire, so you can get candidates working more quickly.
