It is always in any company’s best interest to hire the best candidate for any position that they have. In addition to undergoing the application and interview process, one way to guarantee that a company hires the right person for the role is by having them undergo a background check. While some companies are comfortable handling this themselves, it is much more efficient and effective to have reputable Atlanta background investigators handle this for you.
Not only are they trained to check every nook and cranny of a potential employee to clear their backgrounds, but they can go a long way in helping organizations stay safe during the hiring process. Here is everything that you need to know about background investigators and the steps that they take to help organizations hire safely.
Why is a Background Check Necessary?
When it comes to background checks, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. The process will vary depending on the position that a company is hiring for, the size of the company, and the resources that they have available. That being said, there are some general reasons why a background check might be necessary.
The first reason is to ensure that the candidate has no current or outstanding warrants. This type of background check is obviously important for positions that require working with sensitive information or handling large amounts of cash.
The second reason is to check if the candidate has any prior convictions. This is important for positions requiring a high level of trust, such as healthcare or education. While someone with a criminal record can be gainfully employed, there are certain companies and industries where a record can raise red flags for a prospective employee.
The third reason is to verify the candidate’s identity and qualifications. While most companies will do this during the application and interview process, it is always good to double-check.
After all, the last thing you want is to hire someone with a false identity or qualifications, which can affect their ability to handle the scope of their roles. Some candidates may lie about their qualifications and positions they have previously handled, and digging into this will help bring all of this to light.
The fourth reason is to check for any negative financial history. This is important for positions that require handling money or sensitive information. A background check can reveal any bankruptcies, tax liens, or foreclosures in a person’s history, which can give you a good indication of their financial stability.
Many banks and other financial organizations consider it a red flag to hire someone with a negative mark on their financial records, which is why this is an essential factor to look into.
As you can see, a background investigator’s role can cover various checks that help organizations find the right person for the position.
Some people may consider this a bit much, but keep in mind that for many companies, it is easier to go through all of this trouble during the hiring process as opposed to hiring someone whom they considered a good fit for the role only to find out that they were not the type of employee that they were looking for.
Eventually, they may need to fire this person, which can be lengthy and costly, as well as open up potential legal liabilities and have to undergo the hiring process all over again. A good background check helps avoid all of this and ensures that the company gets it right the first time when they hire someone.
What Does a Background Investigator Do?
Now that we’ve gone over some of the reasons why a background check might be necessary, let’s take a look at what a background investigator actually does.
A background investigator is responsible for conducting background checks on potential employees. This process usually involves running a criminal record check, verifying employment history, and checking references.
In some cases, a background investigator might also be responsible for conducting financial checks, drug tests, and psychological evaluations. While these are not always necessary, they can give you a more well-rounded picture of a potential employee.
The steps that a background investigator takes will vary depending on the position that you are hiring for and the resources that you have available.
How Does a Background Investigator Help Organizations Hire Safely?
One of the most important things you must understand about conducting a background check on anybody is that you need to be aware of plenty of legal requirements. Everything, from obtaining consent from the prospective employee, to performing the actual check, has to be extensively documented to make sure that you are not violating any laws and regulations during the hiring process.
When you hire a professional background investigator to handle this for you, all of these worries are handled for you, which is a huge weight off your organization’s back and helps protect the organization against any potential legal issues.
Another way that a background investigator helps organizations to hire safely is by providing them with an objective assessment of the candidate.
While it is important to get to know the candidate on a personal level during the interview process, having somebody who can look at the candidate’s qualifications and history without any biases will provide you with a fairer assessment of the candidate, which guarantees that you are hiring the best prospect for the role. This is where a background investigator comes in handy, as they can provide you with an unbiased report of their findings.
A background investigator can also help save your organization time and money. Hiring someone without conducting a background check can be a huge gamble, as you might end up hiring somebody who is not qualified for the job or has a criminal record. This can lead to high turnover rates, which can be very costly for your organization.
On the other hand, conducting a background check can help you find the right candidate the first time, saving your organization a lot of time and money in the long run.
Overall, background investigators play a vital role in helping organizations to hire safely. By conducting thorough background checks, they can help to weed out any candidates who might not be qualified or who might pose a risk to your organization. If you are looking to hire someone for a position of trust, then hiring a background investigator to help you with the process is well worth the investment.
