Recent studies have found that almost 30% of job seekers exaggerate or falsify their education, past positions, and accomplishments.  Of these 11% misrepresent why they left their former employer while 10% of applicants seriously misrepresent their background. Hiring the wrong employee can result in revenue loss, negligent hiring law suites, and even the loss of your business.

Conducting reference checks will help you verify the information applicants provide while giving you insight to their character, skills, and track record.  Reference checks are time intensive, and at times can be difficult to obtain relevant information since many companies are reluctant to provide information beyond employment dates, job title, position description, and pay.  Reference checks are subject to the same laws and regulations as applicant interviews; therefore, you should develop procedures for conducting reference checks.

 The following guidelines will help you create an effective reference check process:

•  Require applicants to complete a job application that gives consent to contact current and past employers, and to provide contact information for personal references.  Job applications should clearly state that false or misleading statements and omissions are grounds for terminating the application process and employment.
•  Have applicants sign a background check waiver permitting you to ask former employers and personal references job related questions.  Many states consider employer comments as “qualifiedly privileged” meaning that an employer cannot be held liable for information revealed unless he or she knowing and recklessly makes false statements.  The waiver should include statements that the applicant will not sue you or a former employer based on information obtained and used to make your hiring decision.
• Prior to calling references, mail or fax a copy of the applicant’s waiver along with a letter introducing yourself.
• Develop a standard set of questions to ask each reference.  Questions should be job related and specific to the position. Make sure you verify the information the applicant provided in the application.  When speaking with former employers at a minimum verify employment dates, job title, position description, and pay.  Ideally ask about the nature of the tasks performed, work ethics, sense of responsibility, ability to work with others, and most importantly whether they would hire the individual again.
• Document your conversations with each reference noting unsuccessful tries at gathering information to protect yourself from negligent hiring claims. Also note refusal to answer specific questions.
• If you have difficulty contacting a reference or obtaining requested information from a reference, ask the job applicant for more information or to clear the way for you with the references he or she gave.

Do you know the benefits of Employment Verification?

If so, it is safe to say that you complete these verifications on everybody that you hire. But if you do not know what employment verifications have to offer, there is a good chance that you simply pass them by time and time again.  Fortunately, there are many benefits that are plain as day, and will probably show you that employment verifications are well worth your time and money.

Here are three benefits that go along with a good employment verification practice.

1. With employment verification you never have to worry about missing lies on an application.  Anybody can say that they were a big wig at their last company.  But if you do not check on this you could be hiring somebody who is lying to you.
2. When you run employment verifications on applicants you will be able to save yourself a lot of headaches in the future.  For instance, maybe you need to hire an accountant.  If you end up doing this without an employment verification you could get the wrong person who does not have any experience.  This will then lead to you having to fire them, and in turn go through the entire process again.
3. Although you will have to pay money for employment verifications, you will make it back in the long run.  Making good hires the first time around is a key to success with any business.  There is no reason to make things more difficult on yourself than they already are!

For additional information on Employment Verification please contact DataBase Records @1-888-449-8991.