Background screening trends for the new year

credit checks and social media checks, we can expect the landscape of the background check process to look a little bit different this year. These are just a few of the top trends in background screening that you can expect in 2014, and what the implications are for your business. Increased Scrutiny on Cheap Commercial Services Companies bear the brunt of the burden when it comes to discrimination lawsuits, and ensuring the information you use to qualify and disqualify candidates is reputable is more important than ever. Inexpensive “instant” background screen services will be scrutinized more closely for leaving information out of reports or not containing the full picture. On the other hand, technology is continually improving, and the speed at which an applicant background check can be completed is improving. Services like Mind Your Business, which conduct reputable, quality checks, will still be the standard this year. Decreased Social Media Checks, But Increased Usage Previously, some companies used social media as a means of learning information about potential hires, which may have led to hiring or not hiring specific candidates. The number of companies conducting these searches is decreasing, but social media usage is not. In fact, with more applicants leveraging their social media accounts as marketing tools, we will see an increase in companies using social media to recruit new hires. LinkedIn especially is a great tool for finding qualified leads for job openings. Eliminating Criminal History as a Means of Disqualification The so-called “ban the box” movement hopes to eliminate the checkbox on standard job applications that asks if a candidate has been convicted of a crime. The checkbox is often used to immediately disqualify candidates, and proponents of the movement want to give a chance to applicants who may have had a criminal history, but who have since moved past it. Running a standard criminal reference check will still turn up information about a candidate’s past, but removing the checkbox gives candidates a chance to move through the hiring and background check process without risking immediate disqualification upon applying. Learn more about the types of checks we do and what these trends might mean for your business by contacting us today!]]>