WHAT IS BACKGROUND CHECKS?

A background check is a process a person or company uses to verify that an individual is who they claim to be, and this provides an opportunity to check and confirm the validity of someone's criminal record, education, employment history, and other activities from their past. The frequency, purpose, and legitimacy of background checks vary among countries, industries, and individuals.

WHY BACKGROUND CHECKS IS IMPORTANT?

Employers need to verify the authenticity of job seekers, especially for those positions that need high security like financial institutions, software companies, government offices, etc.

These search results are often used by employers to know about a job candidate’s past transgressions, character, fitness for the job, and so on. This also helps identify potential hiring risks for safety and security reasons. Background investigations are also needed for possible government employees before giving a security clearance.

Apart from this, verification of the information given in the job application or curriculum vitae is also done. A recent study showed that half of all reference checks done on prospective employees differed from what a candidate provided and what the references reported.

TYPES OF BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS

Information needed depends on the type of employment, nature of duty and responsibility handled, the position held, etc. For example, a lower wage employee would undergo far less screening than someone applying for vacancies in executive positions with responsibilities that require security of information and so on.

Based on the need of the position in question, employers determine the kind of searches to include in background investigations.

● Academic verifications
● Character reference check
● Gaps in employment history
● Gaps in educational history
● Identity and address verification

MARKET FOR BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS

Surprisingly, larger companies typically outsource background checking services rather than performing them in-house, with the financial sector being the most prevalent.
Outsourcing is least prevalent in the real estate industry.

Some investigation agencies seeking information in the Philippines for criminal records checks only seek electronic data from larger search firms, often with no assurance of authenticity.
A shallow grade of background check in the Philippines, for example, could be done at a low cost, but it could only consist of "ghost written" negative results, with no Philippine background checks conducted at all.

WHAT IS PRE-EMPLOYMENT CHECKS?

Employers may conduct background checks to confirm a prospective employee's previous work experience, capability, positions held, and even salary information. This is typically done in-house.

A more thorough examination may include interviews with a candidate's friends, ex-colleagues, neighbors, and family members.

Such past employment and personal reference inquiries are becoming more standardized in order to avoid unnecessary and costly litigation.