Background Verification

Meaning & Definition

Background Verification

Background verification is a process many organizations carry out in order to verify the information provided by the candidate during hiring. It involves various checks in which the employer will go through your education records, past employer details, identity checks, resume checks and address checks. It is done once the candidate clears all the interview rounds and it takes up to 10 working days to carry out the process. Sometimes it may take more time when the employer is looking for in-depth information.

Check our blog on Background Verification: How Much Is Too Much?

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

  1. What Is Employment Background Verification?

    Background verification is something that organizations do to ensure that the records of the potential employee are free from any malfeasance. Orgs usually go through employment, financial, and criminal records of the candidate when they have been finalized for the job. This step helps the employer make sure of the authenticity of the candidate and hence, increases the chances for the candidate in question to be hired.

  2. What are the 6 types of background verification for new hires?

    The 6 most common, and also the most important types of background verification for new hires are:

    1. Candidate's history of employment: To avoid hiring someone who comes with a liability to the previous employer.
    2. Criminal record: To ensure that the candidate's admission does not tarnish the reputation of the company and does not threaten the safety of the organization.
    3. Credit Score: To check the financial stability that the candidate comes with. It is also done to determine if the candidate has had a history of financial fraud or even embezzlement.
    4. Reference check: To check the authenticity and personal demeanor of the employee through people who know them.
    5. Social media check: To ensure that the potential employee comes from a humble background.
    6. Drug Screening: To ensure that the potential employee does not bring or come with certain narcotics that are prohibited by the government.
  3. What is background verification process?

    The process of background verification is one where an employer or the HR team goes through multiple records of a candidate in their last round of screening to be hired as an employee. It involves the organization looking through several employee records, professional, criminal, and personal, to determine the roots and authenticity of the potential employee.

  4. What makes you fail a background check?

    A lot of factors can lead to the candidate failing their background check. It can be any of the reasons like:

    • Qualifications that do not match the criteria (could be about the job experience or about the educational status)
    • Criminal record
    • Poor credit score/ financial stability
    • Falsified employment history
    • Failed drug test
  5. Can you be denied a job because of a background check?

    Yes, an employee can be denied a job because of a background check. However, to do this, the employer must have airtight documentation of all the laws that prohibit them from hiring a person who has failed certain background check criteria.

    Other than that, employers also must give out an adverse action notice that clearly states that the candidate was unable to fulfill the background verifications, and hence, they are not fit to join the organization.

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