The Ultimate Checklist for Evaluating Background Screening Vendors

Background screening is critical to the success of any business and recruiting program. After all, the average cost of a bad hire is at least 30 percent of the individual’s first-year expected earnings. Making a bad hire can also lead to diminished productivity, lost clients, a damaged reputation, stolen company property (when 30% of business failures are directly related to employee theft), and sometimes even billion-dollar lawsuits. 

Thankfully, a quality background screening service can help employers spot red flags in candidate applications, reduce risk, and improve hiring outcomes. 

Evaluation Checklist

Choosing the right background check company can feel daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. 

Whether you’re finding a background screening service for the first time or looking to switch providers, you’ll first need to determine your must-haves when it comes to features and functionality. 

Working from a selection criteria checklist will make the evaluation period more efficient and effective. Going into your search with a narrow, defined focus will automatically weed out solutions that aren’t right for your business, helping you get the right answer faster.

Thankfully, we’ve written the ultimate list of background screening selection criteria for you––so you can go into your search with an expert-backed evaluation checklist that helps you find the best background screening service for your business. 

Key Functionality 

Reputability 

• Is the service accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association? 
• Does the service have positive online reviews? 
• Does the service provide top-notch customer service via U.S.-based employees? 
• Does the vendor have a professional website?
  
• Does the vendor work with clients similar to your business?

Accuracy 

• Is the vendor’s dispute rate (# of legitimate disputes filed against vendor versus total # of background checks) on par with industry standards? (This percentage should be below 1%). 
• Does the vendor have access to the most up-to-date and comprehensive court records from all relevant federal, state, and local jurisdictions?
  
• Is the product backed by an adjudication team proficient in compliance, criminal justice, information security, verification standards, and business practices? 

Turnaround Times 

• Does the vendor provide faster-than-average turnaround times (12-24 hours)?
  
• Does the vendor call previous employers when they can’t get the data they need to keep turnaround times on track?
  
• Does the vendor provide responsive customer support to get challenging screenings to the finish line?

Cost

• Does the vendor provide detailed background checks?
  
• Does the vendor allow you to customize your screening package so you only pay for what you need?
  
• Does the vendor provide more value beyond just screenings (i.e. responsive customer support, compliance assistance, mobile solutions, etc.)?
  

Key Features

Screenings 

• Does the vendor do a social security number trace to confirm past address history?
  
• Does the vendor do a national criminal file search to parse through criminal data from local, state, and federal repositories–including the Sex Offender Registry and government watch lists?
• Does the vendor do a sex offender criminal search to get more detailed information from public and tribal registries not included in the national criminal file search?
• Does the vendor do a county criminal/other public records search to get county-level access to information regarding felony and misdemeanor convictions, arrests, and/or pending cases?
• Does the vendor do a statewide criminal/public records search to get state-level access to conviction records?
• Does the vendor do a federal criminal/public records search to get access to federal-level crimes, including kidnapping, drug trafficking, bank robbery, embezzlement, counterfeiting, and other “white collar” crimes (plus crimes involving crossing state borders)?
• Does the vendor do a driving records and motor vehicle records search for applicants who will operate a motor vehicle, including a company car or forklift?
• Does the vendor do an employment verification to confirm a candidate’s references and work history?
• Does the vendor provide an education verification to validate a candidate’s degree or GED earned from an accredited institution?
• Does the vendor pull a credit report to get insight into a potential hire’s financial distress that might indicate a risk of theft or fraud?
• Does the vendor do a professional license verification to check a candidate’s credentials for roles that require a license to practice the profession?
• Does the vendor offer drug screening services that make it easy for candidates to schedule and complete a drug test at an official collection site?
• Does the vendor offer international screening services and consultations to help you hire top talent from across the world and navigate variable international hiring/employment laws?

Must-Have Additional Features

• Does the vendor offer a mobile-first solution for keeping applicants informed with real-time notifications?
• Does the vendor have ATS integrations?
• Is the vendor PBSA-certified? 
• Does the vendor have a Consumer Dispute Center?
• Does the vendor offer resources for HR professionals?
• Does the vendor offer continuous screening capabilities? 
• Does the vendor source more than 4,000 federal, state, and local government sources?
• Does the vendor have a U.S.-based customer support team?

Don’t Leave Background Screening to Chance

Selecting the right background screening company is a critical decision that can significantly affect your hiring success and overall security. 

Use this comprehensive checklist to guide you through the intricate process of evaluating potential vendors, ensuring you choose a partner that meets your needs. 

Investing time and effort into this decision now can save your hiring process from potential risks and costs associated with bad hires, ultimately contributing to a safer, more productive, and successful workplace.

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