How to Conduct Pre-Employment Background Checks and Verification in India

A study published in International Criminology found that 71.1% of U.S. job seekers reported undergoing a criminal background check during the hiring process, highlighting the widespread use of such screenings in employment practices. Pre-employment background checks are not new, and have been a growing trend in India.

Top IT staffing companies in Bangalore use pre-employment checks to ensure the authenticity of candidates applying for the role. In this blog, we will explore the benefits and importance of background checks before you decide to hire a candidate.

What is a Pre-Employment Background Check?

A pre-employment background check is the process of gathering and verifying information about individuals. This may include searching for information through public records, databases, and other such sources. The thorough investigation from employee background screening helps employers confirm the accuracy of the information provided by candidates on their resumes and beyond. It may include criminal record checks, employment history, and more. 

While conducting pre employment background verification is important, employers must also follow the standards of compliance to ensure the best practices of recruitment. Pre employment checks also lead to more smart and informed hiring decisions.

Recommended: Common Hiring Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Why is it Important to run a Background Check for Employment?

The pre-employment process is critical to the recruitment process for many reasons. You should conduct employee background checks for your company because:

1. Verification of Qualifications

Candidates may falsify or misrepresent information present within the resume. Through comprehensive background checks, you will be able to verify the information mentioned in the CV. This may include information like education, training, credentials, and employment history. Pre hire background checks help you to confirm whether the candidate is the right fit for the organization.

2. To Keep the Workplace Safe

Employment history checks can help keep the workplace safe from dangerous individuals who might have a criminal history. Criminal background checks can help protect both the organization and the public from such individuals.

3. Risk Management

Individuals who were involved with unethical activities or illegal actions in the past may pose a risk to the organization. Employee background verification saves your organization from such risks. 

4. To Avoid a Bad Hire

A bad hire can cost the company a fortune. You can avoid this mistake by performing a pre employment background screening during the recruitment process. 

5. To Ensure Compliance

India does not mandatorily ask organizations to conduct a background check before hiring an individual. You will still find some industries or positions that have set guidelines for background verification status. However, to avoid potential lawsuits, it's advisable to conduct pre-employment screening processes during the recruitment phase.

How to Conduct an Employment Background Check?

An employment background check ensures you are selecting the right candidate for the role. The background verification process involves a lot of steps, such as:

1. Create a Policy for Background Checks

Create a clear outline or framework for the pre employment background investigation. This helps to maintain compliance standards and ensure more consistency in the process.

2. Adhere to Legal Compliance Standards

The standard pre employment background check should be strictly compliant with industry-specific regulations to prevent liabilities. Many businesses reach out to HR services in Bangalore to ensure that legal compliance standards are strictly maintained.

3. Choose an HR Consultancy that offers Background Check Services

Top HR consultancies or IT recruitment consultants in Bangalore have experience with conducting background checks to verify candidate employment history. They also use the latest advanced technology and AI-driven tools to ensure the process is completed without any delays. You can reach out to them for the best pre employment screening services.

4. Select The Type of Screening Report

There are many types of employment background checks, which include identity verification, criminal record searches, employment history verification, education verification, address verification, reference checks, credit history checks, drug testing, professional license checks, and social media screening. Different companies have different requirements, so choose the right type of screening reports to run background checks to complete the recruitment process.

5. Obtain Written Authorization for Candidates

Employers must inform candidates before the pre employment verification that the recruitment process will include a thorough background check on them. To do this, you need to obtain a written authorization from the candidates before you move forward with the process.

6. Send Pre-Adverse Notice to Candidates

For the background verification process, you need to send a pre-adverse notice to candidates if you find information that may lead to you not hiring the candidate. Along with the notice, you need to attach a copy of the screening report and wait for the candidate's response. If the response is not satisfactory, then you need to send an adverse notice that states the reason for not hiring the candidate. 

Read Also: IT Recruiter Roles and Responsibilities: A Complete Guide

Is Background Screening for Employment Mandatory in India?

In India, there are no particular laws or regulations around the pre employment background check process. However, some industries have stricter standards and conduct background checks, such as the banking sector, insurance sector, and financial sector. This is because background verification checks help to ensure the safety of the workplace. 

Benefits of Performing a Background Verification during the Hiring Process

Your organisation should perform background verification during the hiring process for the following benefits:

1. Positive Brand Reputation

You save your company from potential damage to its reputation through pre employment screening checks. It also helps you to gain more trust from your customers. A company with one bad hire can cause long-term damage to the company's reputation.

2. Reduce Turnover Rates

The time taken to hire and train an employee is not only expensive, but also requires a lot of manual effort from your company. A high turnover rate might send the wrong message to potential candidates who are seeking out opportunities at your company.

3. Improved Regulatory Compliance

Strict regulatory compliance standards prevent your company from future compliance risks. This ensures that your company has a culture that is built on fairness.

Read More: How Employee Reviews and Testimonials Can Help You Attract Talent

Conclusion

Pre-employment checks help to verify the accuracy of the information given in the candidate's application, and help to make sure that you are making the right decision to hire them for the company. While conducting background checks may not be absolutely necessary by law, it can help you verify crucial information.