Criminal Histories Are Now Being Checked More Than Educational Qualifications

Finding, retaining and developing talent is a key concern for nearly all human resources professionals, and, with the uncertainty of Brexit and its effects just around the corner, this only complicates the process further.

Despite this pressure to hire quickly pressing on efficiencies, many HR departments are upping their screening game and making the recruitment process more in-depth than ever before.

The Current Screening Landscape

 
According to recent reports and our own data, a company is more likely to check a job candidate’s employment record than any other factors. This includes verifying references to ensure CVs can not be elaborated and false claims are not made. In fact, Enhanced DBS Checks are one of our most popular services. However, more and more organisations are now choosing to carry out criminal record checks too.

This may be due to the introduction of the Senior Managers Regime which recently made these checks for certain roles a necessity: What is the Senior Managers and Certification Regime, And How Will it Affect My Organisation?

Or, it could simply be a nationwide conscious effort to make more informed hiring decisions, based off the back of recent horror stories in the press.

On the flip side, social media checks are the opposite, with many now telling us that a person’s online persona may not be a true reflection of how they behave within the workplace. However, that is not to say HR departments do not do their own media checks to ensure a person’s past bad reputation is not reflected upon them if they decide to offer a contract.

Do You Want to Improve Your Screening Process?

 
If you and your employer are keen to make your recruitment process more in-depth by introducing additional screening or employment checks, it can be simpler than you may think. Using a screening house, like ourselves, can considerably streamline your current system and ensure additional checks are made with minimal effect to your efficiencies. You can even build a bespoke screening system, should you wish.

If you have any questions about the current background screening landscape, any emerging trends, or the checks themselves, get in touch with our friendly and knowledgeable team.