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How do Employers verify Education Records of Applicants for Employment: Best Practices

One of the most crucial components of background screening is the education verification process. Regardless of whether they work in a blue-collar or white-collar environment, today’s workforce requires some type of educational qualification. Companies may wish to trust an applicant’s educational qualifications based on the appearance of their documents, which is understandable. However, it is critical to verify any educational claims made by the candidate legitimately. 

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Market conditions are growing increasingly difficult, prompting people to use all methods necessary to find work. It has been discovered that a substantial number of job applicants are lying about their qualifications in order to seem suitable prospects. Unethical practices such as degree forgery, bogus institutes, and deceptive claims are difficult to detect, necessitating background checks. Every year, India generates between 2 and 2.5 million graduates. With such a large number of degree holders, having strict education check regulations becomes even more vital. 

What is an Educational Background Check?

An education background check verifies an applicant’s statements about their schooling. Their attendance and degrees acquired at high schools, colleges, and vocational schools are verified through this process.

 

Thousands of people may be interested in a great job opportunity. While some are deserving, others can make up a few areas of their resume to fit in. Employers can use background checks to verify a candidate’s training, certifications, and academic history. That way, they’ll be able to spot any anomalies in the application and take appropriate action. 

According to SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management), 69 percent of employers investigate candidates' criminal history

Thousands of people may be interested in a great job opportunity. While some are deserving, others can make up a few areas of their resume to fit in. Employers can use background checks to verify a candidate’s training, certifications, and academic history. That way, they’ll be able to spot any anomalies in the application and take appropriate action. 

The following are the motivations for conducting an education background check:

An education background check verifies an applicant’s statements about their schooling. Their attendance and degrees acquired at high schools, colleges, and vocational schools are verified through this process.

Identifying knowledge gaps against job requirements:

The people you employ must be qualified for the position for which they are applying. A thorough examination of the candidate’s educational background offers information about the subjects they studied and their relevance to the post.

Protecting against false degrees and diplomas:

Diploma mills, which provide candidates with phony degrees, are on the rise. These organizations provide forged certificates in exchange for money, resulting in educational gaps. These organizations are unaffiliated with any reputable organization or government agency. Rather, they collaborate with independent organizations whose curriculum and standards do not conform to the legally mandated standard. 

Verify the authenticity and usefulness of foreign degrees:

Students are increasingly seeking education in other countries. It’s possible that the curriculum in those countries doesn’t exactly fit the job description. Furthermore, as part of the education verification process, the legitimacy of international educational institutions and the worth of their degrees must be confirmed. 

How do Employers verify Educational Background of prospects?

Education verification of degrees and diplomas is mainly done in the institutions’ in-house offices. Third-party education check services are also used by companies and institutions because they have their own proprietary databases for confirming the individual’s claims. While conducting education verification, a number of parameters must be checked and validated. 

Verifying the name and registration number:

This is essentially an identification verification. By comparing the candidate’s name and roll number to official institute records, it is possible to determine whether the applicant genuinely attended the university that is being claimed.

Verifying course information:

This education verification parameter is crucial since it establishes a direct link between the applicant’s education and the employment role being offered. This entails generating a list of all the subjects the candidate has taken and determining their relevance to the job. 

Graduation year:

Because youthful applicants are increasingly sought after by employers, many candidates fake their graduation dates. By contacting the institution provided by the candidate, education verification of graduation records can be simply acquired. 

Graduation status:

This essentially verifies the candidate’s quality. Businesses frequently do not prefer candidates with lower grades or drop years. The job’s nature may necessitate applicants with a high level of expertise and knowledge. Candidates may hide their drop years or mislead about their grades. To achieve high-quality recruiting, such inconsistencies should be identified during education verification.

Whether the institution has been deemed fake by regulatory bodies:

As previously stated, forgeries and diploma mills are on the rise. Verifying the educational institute’s legitimacy can assist protect the company from candidates from questionable institutions. This can be accomplished by comparing the institution’s information to that provided by regulating authorities such as the UGC.

Few methods that employers use to verify education records of individuals:

Collaborating with a third-party background check company

Employers’ preferred method of verifying an applicant’s education is to work with a third-party background check company. They can verify an applicant’s schooling records in a fraction of the time that it would take an employer to do by themselves, and they can provide verified information to the employers in as little as a few hours. They can also confirm the applicant’s claimed educational background.

The DIY approach

If an employer does not use a verification provider, education verification can be done manually by the HR department. Contacting the university’s registrar, providing details about the prospective employee, and requesting verification would be part of this DIY process. 

A few of the best practices for conducting educational background checks:

Written Disclosure: Employers must notify candidates in writing that they will perform background checks. 

Consent: Employers must seek each applicant’s authorization before performing background checks through third-party providers. 

Result sharing: The employer must share the results of the background check with the applicant and notify them of their rights and next steps when the vendor completes the background check. 

Following steps in the adverse-effects procedure: If an employer learns any negative information that may have an impact on their employment decisions, they must follow the adverse-action procedure. For example, if you discover a discrepancy after doing a background check and decide not to hire the individual, you must send the candidate or employee a final adverse action notice. 

Anti-discrimination regulations: Employers must abide by their country’s anti-discrimination laws. 

Equality: Conduct a background check on every applicant, regardless of race, ethnicity, color, gender, or other ascribed qualities. 

Following local laws: You must follow local laws based on your hiring location. 

How can MIMO help?

By partnering with a third-party background screening company, you will be able to receive all the information you need quickly. Working with a reputable background check firm will save you time and money while also ensuring that you remain compliant in the customer screening process. 

The simple truth is that recruiting the best personnel is a rigorous competition, and you must be at the top of your game to attract and keep the best. Making the right hiring decisions will have a significant influence on your business, resulting in higher productivity. MIMO offers all-inclusive background check services with a focus on compliance adherence to provide you with the most reliable and up-to-date details. 

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