Every employer needs to be sure about the applicants they hire. Thus, the primary method of acquiring detailed information about the potential hire apart from the application is background investigation. However, a background investigation often includes finding out if the applicant is fit for the position due to any previous criminal record for whatever the reason may be. Such as:

Motor Vehicle Violations

Criminal Conviction

Poor Credit history

Education misinterpretations, etc.

Types of Background Investigation

Just like every other investigation, background investigation also has a different type. This investigation depends upon the employment, position held, nature of duty, responsibilities handled, and many more. Such as, the amount of screening an applicant will go through for applying for an executive position is far more than a lower-wage employee. However, according to the role of the applicants, the background investigation that the employers carry out are:

Character reference check

Academic verifications

Gaps in educational history

Gaps in employment history

Identity and address verification

Importance of Background Investigation

However, several reasons why an employer goes through such a heavy process. Let's have a look at the reasons why a background check is so important.

Security

One of the significant reasons to have the applicant's background checked is to prevent any legal liability or harm to the business or others in the workplace. Some of the examples of harm include:

The candidate can potentially harm other employees through workplace violence and sexual harassment. 

The candidate may harass the customers within the business premises.

The candidate may cause financial loss or reputational issues.

Maximize Productivity

Past work performance can indicate you efficiently the applicant cand work. It reveals the candidate's professionalism, interpersonal communication skills, and many more. Just as the saying states, hire the best and reject the rest, the background investigation helps identify who can potentially be a trustworthy employee and who can not. 

Data Verification

Verifying education and credentials is another crucial aspect the employer needs to run a background check. All the information that the candidates usually provide, such as employment history, other relevant data, and tenure, can reveal their qualifications and efficiency and give insight into the candidate's motivation and reliability.

Outsourcing Background Investigation

However, the larger businesses often outsource background investigation services instead of doing it within the company. Real estate comes at the bottom level of outsourcing among those outsourcing industries. One of the significant perks of third-party investigation is Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) coverage. This law controls the retrieval and collection of consumer credit reports, determining what the employers may access and what they can not.

Conclusion

You will find several agencies that provide a routine record check for background investigation. They offer an in-depth inquiry at a lower cost. However, no matter how many agencies provide you with the best deal, you need to choose your options wisely so that the entire process gets carried out in the best hands.