Due to the potential risks of hiring someone unfit for the role, companies often use a range of hiring practices, including conducting background checks and verifying employment history. While background checks and employment verification may seem similar, they are actually two different things.
What Is a Background Check?
A background check is a comprehensive screening process that looks into a candidate’s criminal history, education, employment history, credit score, and other relevant information.
Background checks can also involve reviewing the candidate’s social media profiles and public records. A background check is commonly used by employers to verify the candidate’s identity and ensure that they have a clean criminal past.
What Is Employment Verification?
Employment verification, on the other hand, focuses exclusively on verifying the information that a candidate provided an employer in regards to their employment history.
Employment verification involves contacting past employers and verifying the candidate’s position, job title, dates of employment, and salary. The purpose of employment verification is to ensure that the candidate’s employment history is truthful and accurate.
Employment verification can be one a stand-alone report or of the components of a wider background screening strategy.
Purpose of Background Check and Employment Verification
The purpose of a background check is to ensure that the candidate is fit for the job. For example, some professions, such as those in healthcare, require candidates to have a clean criminal record.
A background check can also help employers assess whether a candidate is likely to engage in any fraudulent or unethical behavior. The purpose of employment verification is to determine whether a candidate’s job history is truthful and accurate.
Legal Requirements
Background checks and employment verification have legal requirements that employers must adhere to.
Employers must follow state and federal laws regarding background checks, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Wrapping It Up
background checks and employment verification are both valuable tools for employers during the hiring process. However, it’s important to understand their different purposes and legal requirements.
While a background check provides a broad look into a candidate’s overall suitability for the role, employment verification focuses solely on verifying a candidate’s past employment history.
As an employer, understanding the difference between these two processes can help you avoid any legal issues and ensure that you hire the best candidate for your company.
Plexus Global: Background Screening Services in California and Beyond
Plexus Global is a California-based background screening company serving organizations all over the U.S. and abroad.
Contact us today by telephone (844-516-1008), email (sales@plexusglobalinc.com), or through our social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
