Background Checks

For the past few weeks we’ve been posting about hiring methods and practices (you can find the posts here). During our research, one of the things we’ve discovered is that an essential part of the hiring process is checking out a prospect’s background. You really can’t afford to be surprised by a candidate’s previous history. After all, if an employee's actions hurt someone, the employer may be liable. A bad decision can wreak havoc on a company's budget and reputation.

People Lease offers a fantastic employment screening service to all our clients. With our service you’re able to establish a prospect’s identity, obtain driving and criminal records, get information on illegal substance tests, confirm the existence & validity of licenses, and confirm education & employment information provided on their resume. Another part of the service includes contacting references with customized questions (according to job description) about their relationships with the applicant, and his or her personal and professional reputation and activities.

People Lease is here to help you with hiring and all aspects of employee administration. To learn more about these services and others, please contact us today.

A quick checklist to help guide you through the hiring process

• Determine the need to establish a new or fill an existing position.
• Make sure an updated job description for the position is on file.
• Consult the job description to identify the required knowledge, skills, and experience required.
• Calculate the available compensation, including pay and benefits.
• Train managers on how to conduct effective interviews.
• Create an advertisement or recruiting campaign for the job position.
• Contact applicants to schedule interviews.
• Contact top candidates' references.
• Meet with the relevant decision-makers to select a candidate.
• Present the offer letter.
• Conduct background checks.
• Schedule New Employee and Department Orientations.
• Document all new hire paperwork into the employee's HR file

Avoiding Hiring Mistakes

Whether you're growing your business or replacing staff members, you want to find quality employees. You already have applicants and after looking through our recent posts on hiring, you think you're ready to find the right person. You know that the wrong person can cost your company time and money. But all too often, businesses make hiring mistakes.

There are several hiring mistakes to avoid. Common problems start with the interview. You need to be clear about the job's requirements up front and stay on target. You don't want to hire someone based solely on their personality or appearance without asking questions related to the position. Also, don't mistake a candidate's nervousness for lack of ability. Interviews can be intimidating for anyone, especially if it's a surprise group interview.

Another mistake is paying too much attention to the candidate's degree over their experience. There's just no substitute for a proven track record.  Don't forget, you're looking for someone who has a good feel for the position and will be a good fit for your team. You might consider involving your current employees, as well.  After all, they're the ones who will be interacting with the person hired. Getting your employee's input can help strengthen their involvement and loyalty for the company.

Possibly the most important mistake to avoid is not checking candidate's backgrounds. If you're serious about a potential employee, make sure their work history is accurate and check a few references. Internet giant Yahoo recently made this mistake when their new CEO's resume listed a degree he didn't actually have. In addition to the work history and references, background checks are very handy. You certainly don't want to hire a professional embezzler or someone who's been convicted of stealing from the company warehouse.

Hiring is always a daunting task but if you remember these rules while going through your interviews you'll be one step ahead of the game.