Headquartered in New Jersey, TABB INC is a PBSA-accredited leader in background investigations, delivering technology-driven, Fair Credit Reporting Act–compliant screening programs for employers, colleges, and nonprofits nationwide. Its U.S.–based account managers, single-researcher transparency model, and award-winning CareerAndTalentHub.com platform have helped more than 1,000 organizations hire with confidence while streamlining time-to-hire and eliminating administrative bottlenecks.
Employee screening refers to a series of processes that evaluate a candidate’s background, qualifications, and overall suitability for a job role. Some of the most common processes in employee screening are employment and education history verification, criminal background checks, qualification and skill confirmation, and reference confirmation.
In addition to confirming what the candidate must have provided in their resume, employee screening seeks to mitigate the various risks associated with hiring a candidate who is not fit for a particular role. With employee screening, Human Resources (HR) can confirm if the candidate has the experience they have been presented.
Some jobs require a high level of trust because they involve working with children and vulnerable members of society and specific valuables. In this instance, HR might need to confirm a candidate’s criminal history for possible instances of conviction and arrest. Employee screening might include conducting an Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) terrorist checks to confirm the candidate has not taken part in any acts of terrorism. The OFAC check also ensures that the candidate or any organization they are affiliated with is not subject to any economic and trade sanctions programs.
Employers also conduct employment verification exercises to ensure that the work experiences that the candidate has included in their resume are accurate. Verification can consist of confirming the accuracy of the duration of employment and the reason for the termination.
Similarly, employers conduct education verification to determine if the candidate has submitted legitimate academic credentials. These checks also extend to professional licenses and certifications that the candidate has included in their resume. Confirming professional licenses is particularly important for high-trust and professional roles like attorneys, teachers, doctors, and engineers.
One significant benefit of candidate screening is that it helps the organization reduce the risks of hiring the wrong or unqualified candidate. Some risks include reduced workplace safety, legal liability, and theft or fraud. Workplace safety is at the core of every business operation.
Screening should also include criminal record checks to prevent the hiring of a candidate who could jeopardize the safety of other employees within the organization. Further, hiring without proper screening might expose the employer to possible legal liability. Similarly, if an organization employs unscrupulous employees who steal customer data and use it to commit fraud, damages might be awarded against the organization.
Employee screenings and checks are important to comply with industry regulations, such as those in healthcare, finance, and aviation, which have very high employment standards.
Organizations must conduct pre-employment screening to exercise due diligence and comply with these standards while employing professionals.