NAPBS 2018 highlights growing importance of international background checks

Earlier this month, background check professionals came together for the 2018 NAPBS Conference. If the conference is a litmus test for what to expect in employment screening in the coming months and years, one thing is clear:

International background checks should be a priority for employers and screeners alike.

Various sessions spoke about the topic of international background screening and we heard some eye-opening statistics. For example, we learned that 1% of the US workforce is now comprised of foreign nationals, that, in 2017, 71% of employers sponsored a foreign national on a green card, and that 63% of employers say sourcing foreign nationals is “extremely” or “very” important.

While there’s a huge demand, the background screening world has yet to catch up with the globalization of employment, though. International background checks are complex and notoriously difficult to carry out.

What’s included?

Each country has its own set of laws and regulations and some countries even prohibit any agencies from obtaining records. Since there isn’t a global database that allows employers to review an applicant’s information, international background checks consist of checking records country by country where the applicant has lived or worked.

It’s a time-intensive process. International background checks can take anywhere from 10-20 days (sometimes more) to complete.

There are also no set rules for what’s included, but generally the check will focus on:

• Criminal records
• Education verification
• Employment verification
• References

How to perform them?

Here are a few things we recommend keeping in mind for international background checks:

Create a clear process

Employers often cut corners when it comes to international verification due to the significant time investment.

A clear process will help protect both the recruiter and the company against claims of discrimination or negligence in hiring, and ensure a consistent approach.

Be patient

International background checks will take more time than local or national background checks. Unless you’re a seasoned recruiter, the process itself will take longer given the nuances to these types of checks.

Get help

A company may not have the in-house resources or the expertise to carry out international background verifications.

Even if you do, bringing on experts who specialize in these types of checks can prove a valuable move. They’ll improve the speed of the process and the accuracy of the resulting background checks.

Get in touch today to learn more about how MYB can help your business with international background check