Will you survive an employer’s background and credit check?
Barry Whelan of Excel Recruitment explains the lengths to which employers are willing to go to, to ensure they find the right candidate for the job. Make sure you have no skeletons in your closet when job-hunting
Print22 July 2011
A noticeable feature of modern recruitment practices is the wish of employers to perform background checks on potential employees. These checks can be wide ranging, but the most common include:
• Previous employment reference checks
• Confirmation of education
• Digital reference check
• Garda vetting or criminal background check
• Verification of eligibility to work
• Credit checks
Employees need not only to be fully trusted by their employer, but they are a reflection of the business that employs them. Checks and vetting bring peace of mind and less risk for future problems particularly in retail businesses, not only because large amounts of cash are accessible by a large number of employees, but more because employees are an extension of the business and at the coal face of customer interaction.
Background checking
Many employers turn to background checking to ensure potential employee suitability, this is not a new phenomenon, but it is one that is on the rise. Credit checks have been a standard in the banking industry for many years, but recently we are seeing this creep into retail. This trend is driven not only by more professional recruitment processes, but also by the process being made easier by technological advances. There is also a greater awareness by employers that candidates may not always be completely honest about their background and employment histories.
Previous employment reference checks will typically request position, salary level, length of service and general information around performance. If done by email, a company email for the referee will be required, if done by telephone, a landline will be required.
Confirmation of education may require you to find and dust off your leaving certificate or college degree, packed away in your mother’s attic or indeed in a frame on your toilet wall!
Check your digital footprint
A digital reference check involves putting your name into Google and vetting the results. In today’s digital age, your digital footprint is important, your Facebook page may not be just visited by your friends, make sure it looks professional.
Garda vetting takes six weeks and is a requirement of many companies. It is an option offered to employers recruiting through FAS. Alternatively companies may ask you to sign a document stating you have no criminal convictions and if you do not tell the truth, upon discovery of this you can be dismissed.
Verification of legibility to work is commonplace due to the clamp down on illegal workers and work permits.
Credit checks are increasingly being performed by employers. While searches are most common for applicants who will have financial responsibility, checks are becoming more commonplace for those seeking senior positions or indeed positions of responsibility.
Honesty is the best policy
So what should you do when confronted with an employer who wants to run a check? Honesty is the best policy. You cannot influence the outcome and by being honest and upfront about any issues in your past and being able to articulate a reasonable reason for same and what transpired since is always the best course of action. Ireland is a small place and everyone knows everyone so lying through the recruitment process can bite you on the behind! Provide an honest CV and do an honest interview.
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