Looking for the best background check software for your business? Our comprehensive buyers guide has got you covered! Discover top options, features, and pricing to make an informed decision.
Making the right hiring decisions is crucial. While traditional interviews and resumes play a key role in the hiring process, they often miss critical information that can impact the safety and security of your organization. This is where background check software comes in. These innovative tools can help you identify potential red flags in an applicant's history, allowing you to make more informed decisions and mitigate risk. But with so many options on the market, finding the right one for your business can be a daunting task. This buying guide will walk you through the most important advanced features to look for when selecting this solution, so you can make the best decision for your organization.
What is background check software?
This is a type of system that helps businesses and organizations to verify the history and background of potential employees or vendors. It is designed to simplify the hiring process and due diligence, by providing the necessary information about individuals in an efficient and effective way.
Some of its common use cases include:
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Employment verifications: to verify a job candidate's past employment history, titles held and duration of employment
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Criminal background checks: to determine if a candidate has any criminal history or records
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Education verifications: to confirm the educational background and credentials of an applicant
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Credit history checks: to see if an applicant has demonstrated financial responsibility
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Identity verification: to determine if an applicant is who they say they are
Background check software is used by a wide range of different companies including but not limited to:
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Human resources and recruiting departments: to vet and verify job candidates
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Security and law enforcement agencies: to screen individuals for potential criminal activity or security threat
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Schools and universities: to verify the educational background of prospective students or faculty members
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Financial institutions: to screen applicants for financial positions, such as banking or investment roles
What benefits does a background check solution come with?
When it comes to hiring, this application provides a powerful way to ensure that your hiring decisions are made with confidence. Here are the benefits of background check software in detail:
Improved hiring decisions
It can be used to screen job candidates before bringing them on board. With this system, you can easily check a candidate's criminal history, employment history and education. This information will help you make more informed hiring decisions and offer you the peace of mind of reducing the risk of bad hires. Results from a research show that 96% of organizations surveyed conducted one or more types of employment background screenings. Additionally, 52% of them cited “improving the quality of hires”
Higher workplace security
Workplace security is of the utmost importance to any business. This technology helps to identify potentially problematic individuals early on in the hiring process. This can help prevent workplace violence, theft, and other security concerns.
Enhanced regulatory compliance
Many businesses are subject to regulatory compliance standards. This tool helps you comply with these regulations by providing a consistent screening process and documentation of each candidate's accurate background check.
Improved company culture
Hiring employees with a questionable background can damage company culture and cause reputational harm. A background check application helps ensure that all new hires align with your company culture and values, helping to create a positive workplace environment.
Cost savings
Hiring the wrong person can be a costly mistake. This program enables you to make more informed hiring decisions, reducing the risk of bad hires and the financial costs associated with replacing employees. The average cost of a negligent hiring lawsuit is estimated to be $1 million and 70% of the time. Given the cost and bad publicity a negligence lawsuit can create, it’s in your best interest to fully vet candidates with a thorough background check.
By leveraging this technology, businesses can make more informed hiring decisions and hire the best candidates for their organization.
10 key features of a background check application
This background check platform isn't just for HR departments anymore. It's now an essential tool for businesses seeking to protect their assets and minimize risk. It's an incredibly convenient solution that can streamline the hiring process, verify job applicants' qualifications, and ensure that potential employees are who they say they are.
Here are 10 common features you should expect to find with most of them:
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Comprehensive reports: The solution should generate comprehensive and detailed reports that eliminate the need for manual research and analysis.
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Criminal record search: The system should allow you to search for criminal record history, including felonies, misdemeanors, and sex offenses, based on the applicant's name and address.
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Employment history verification: You should be able to verify an applicant's work history, including dates of employment, job titles, and duties, and any discrepancies should be flagged.
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Education verification: It should check an applicant's education history, including degrees earned, dates of attendance, and any certifications.
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Driving record check: You should be able to check an applicant's driving record, including moving violations and accidents, with the state's Department of Motor Vehicles.
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Credit score check: This feature allows you to check for bankruptcies, judgments, and liens of the applicant. The information is provided through a third-party credit bureau.
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Identity verification: It should also be able to verify an applicant's identity, including their social security number, address, and name, and flag any inconsistencies.
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Drug screenings: You should be able to check for drug use, including marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and prescription drugs, through urine or blood tests.
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Sanction and watch list searches: You should be able to check if an applicant is listed on government watchlists and sanction lists, including the TSA no-fly list and the Office of Foreign Assets Control list.
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International background checks: This function allows you to check an applicant's background in other countries, including criminal record checks, employment history, and education. It's especially useful for businesses with an international workforce.
Key considerations for adopting a background check system
Background check software is an essential tool for businesses that want to maintain a safe and secure environment by verifying the background information of their employees, customers, and partners. However, choosing the right one can be a challenging task, as there are many providers in the market, each with their own features and advantages.
Here are some factors to consider when choosing the right tool:
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Accuracy and reliability - The software should provide accurate and reliable information to ensure that the background check process results are consistent and trustworthy.
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Compliance - It should comply with all relevant laws and regulations to avoid legal and financial penalties.
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Customizability - It should be also customizable to meet the specific needs of your business and adapt to the changing regulatory landscape.
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Integration - The app should be easy to integrate with your existing systems, processes, and workflows to avoid disruption and streamline your background check processes.
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User experience - The solution should be user-friendly and easy to navigate to minimize errors and maximize efficiency.
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Security - The system should provide robust security features, including encryption and multi-factor authentication, to protect sensitive information from unauthorized access and data breaches.
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Support - The software provider should offer reliable and responsive support to assist you with any technical issues, questions, or concerns that may arise.
Overall, purchasing background check software is an important decision for businesses of all sizes. By considering these factors, you can choose the right package that meets your needs, helps you comply with regulatory requirements, and ensures a safe and secure environment for your business and customers.
Industry trends for background check software
Employment screening trends are quickly evolving with the advance of technology and the need for thorough vetting of potential candidates.
Here are some of the biggest trends for this solution this year and beyond:
Automation and AI
Automated background checks can streamline the employee screening process, allowing HR departments to focus on recruiting, while software handles the vetting. AI-powered systems can sift quickly through large volumes of data to flag risks and anomalies.
Expansion of checks
Employers are focusing on expanding their scope of pre-employment vetting, including international background checks, education verification, and identity verification.
Comprehensive background checks
With the rise of gig and remote work, employers require more in-depth background checks. These screenings may need to include social media checks, digital footprint analysis and skill testing.
Continued growth of mobile solutions
Mobile-friendly background software is developing faster than ever as we expect more transparency and access to results.
Data privacy and security
Employers are prioritizing the privacy and security of their employee data. New software solutions offer encryption, blockchain storage and decentralized data ownership to ensure information security.
With the further development of background check platforms, employers can efficiently review candidates and gain insights to secure their workplaces.
Conclusion
To summarize, background check software has become a vital resource for many businesses, offering invaluable benefits such as improved hiring decisions, and strengthened regulatory compliance and many more as outlined in this guide. By leveraging this powerful tool, businesses can safeguard their operations, protect their assets, and foster a trustworthy and productive work environment.