Do online background checks really work?
A growing trend with the employment screening industry is the use of commercially compiled databases, also known as instant background checks or “national criminal database searches.” These types of checks are quicker and cheaper but lack accuracy and credibility and put employers at a greater risk of fines and lawsuits from the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
What information will be included in a verification?
The background check company will contact verified previous employers to confirm dates of employment, job title, and reason for leaving. Education verifications generally confirm the year of graduation, major, degree earned, and attendance dates.
What questions do they ask on a background check?
Since each background check can be customized to meet the needs of the employer, job position, and state laws, questions can vary according to what is included in the check. For example, if the employer chose to include an education verification, then the candidate would be asked questions regarding what school they attended, the years they attended, when they graduated, what degrees (if any) they acquired, etc.
Are there different types of background checks?
There are two different types of background checks; instant and comprehensive. Instant background checks, also known as “national criminal database searches” provide general information pulled from a commercially available database. These searches aren’t corroborated against any official county court record. Although they are quick, they can often return with error-filled information, since it’s not derived from a verified source. Comprehensive background checks, like DISA’s, involve multiple National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS) FCRA certified employees confirming that all information aligns with the person who is being checked. These individuals also must hold a private investigator license in order to legally be able to research and verify information about the applicant. This process verifies that the information is accurate and is not information from an alias with the same name as the applicant being screened.