Okay, so I had to do a background check on a potential employee recently. It’s something I don’t do often, so I figured I’d document the process this time around. Hopefully, it’ll be helpful for me (or someone else) in the future.
First, I needed to figure out which company to use. There are a ton of them out there, all promising the best service, fastest turnaround, yadda yadda. It’s kinda overwhelming, honestly.
Choosing a Provider
I started by asking around. I hit up some fellow business owners in my network to see who they used and if they had any recommendations. A few names kept popping up, so I narrowed my search down to those.
Next, I did some good old-fashioned online research. I read reviews, compared pricing, and looked at what each company actually offered. Some were super basic, just checking criminal records, while others were more comprehensive, including things like:
- Criminal History: Obviously, this was a must.
- Employment Verification: Making sure people actually worked where they said they did.
- Education Verification: Confirming degrees and certifications.
- Credit History:Because the position related to financial,I needed check it.
- Social Media Checks: This one felt a little “Big Brother,” but I guess it’s pretty standard now. I cared about it.
I jotted down the pros and cons of each company. Some were too expensive, some had terrible reviews, and some just didn’t feel like the right fit for my needs.
The Process
After much deliberation, I finally picked a company. The signup process was pretty straightforward. I had to create an account, provide some basic info about my company, and choose the specific checks I wanted to run.
Then came the candidate’s part. I had to get their consent, of course, which is super important legally. The background check company provided a form for that, which made things easy. Once I had the signed consent form, I entered the candidate’s information into the system: name, social security number, previous addresses, all that jazz.
And then…I waited. The company said it would take a few business days to complete the check. It felt like forever, but I tried to be patient.
Getting the Results
Finally, the email arrived! The background check report was ready. I logged into the system and downloaded the PDF. It was pretty detailed, laying out everything they found (or didn’t find). Luckily everything get well.
It all went smoothly. No major red flags. It’s a relief, to be honest. Background checks can be a bit of a hassle, but they’re definitely important for making informed hiring decisions. I’m glad I took the time to do it right, and I’m even happier I documented the whole process this time!
