We’ve all been there; either a co-worker or someone you personally hired has been caught (yet again) sleeping on the job in the late afternoon hours. Perhaps another employee continues to refuse to cooperate with his or her colleagues and causes a rift in the workplace. Better yet, what about the gossip who derives outlandish tales of fellow workers and has the uncanny ability to make enemies of people who were once friends? These scenarios often times can be avoided if Human Resources or the Hiring Manager followed the proper Employment Screening Experts process prior to hiring someone.
So what is the proper protocol for checking someone’s background prior to hiring them? First, use a discerning eye when reviewing their resume. Misspellings, far-fetched tales of accomplishments and degrees, and exorbitant salary earnings are just a few of the red flags to look for. According to Forbers.com, over 40% of us lie on our resumes. The most common “white lie” told is modifying the date range for employment to close gaps of time. This is most common in women who have taken some time off to have a child and stay at home. If someone you are considering for an interview has any of these red flags, set it aside and look for another candidate!
The next item on your checklist should be calling the person for a phone interview. Many times, a simple phone conversation can define the fuzzy lines of whether or not this person would be a good fit for your company. Listen for inconsistencies in their answers when compared to their resume and note them directly on the resume for your reference. If a person can’t be honest from the start, you should think twice before hiring them. Another thing to listen for while interviewing your candidates is a tendency to speak poorly of others, whether it may be an old boss of theirs or a co-worker. Questions such as “What is the most difficult situation you’ve experienced at work and how did you resolve it?” are an excellent.
Should you decide to bring someone in for an interview, look for both subtle and obvious signs that the person is right for the job. First, make a note on your copy of their resume as to whether or not they arrived on time. A person who cares about getting the job will always arrive on time, if not a little early (unless an extreme circumstance has arisen.). Second, check their attire. Do they care enough to wear something professional because they want to make a good impression? Or are they dressed in something more appropriate for a day at the amusement park? Make a note of this on their resume as well. Finally, during the interview look for alarming signs such as failure to make eye contact, negative statements about ways they’ve handled conflict, and shifting eyes before answering questions about job performance. Someone who can do a good job for you will show confidence in not only the way they carry themselves but also in their knowledge.
The most important thing you can do to ensure hiring a good employee is to hire a company who specializes in employment screening. Companies such as Accu-Screen have been in the business of checking people’s backgrounds for years and know what it takes to get accurate answers for you right away. Don’t take a chance with your next hire…get Accu-Screen today!
