6 Essential Background Checks that Organisations Should Conduct for New Hires

6 Essential background checks

6 Essential Background Checks that Organisations Should Conduct for New Hires

Employers’ most valuable assets are their employees, and finding new employees has become a daily task for businesses that want to do well. For example, how hard is it to find the best clothing store in town with the latest styles? Similarly, locating potential candidates with excellent technological knowledge from the LinkedIn pool is difficult. Employers always conduct background checks on applicants to avoid problems.

Background checks have been less emphasized before hiring someone, even though not doing them right can have more serious effects. Today, every employer wants to do a background or pre-employment background verification on the candidate, ensuring the potential employee is not a fraud and is clean in all areas. A background check entails more than knowing one’s previous or current employment history.

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What is a background check?

A background check involves researching a candidate’s past before hiring. It offers them a clear understanding of the candidate’s nature and abilities and assures them that the candidate is whom they claim to be. It also helps the candidate and the employer feel like they know each other and can trust each other. People always read other people’s reviews before purchasing a product, movie, or restaurant to ensure quality and stability. Similarly, keeping an eye on employment history, educational qualifications, and criminal and financial pasts is usually beneficial to the organization.

Even though employees give full information and references, it is the hiring team’s job to check carefully before hiring. The adoption of digitalization in public data in India, including voter IDs, driver’s licenses, PAN cards, police records, and court records, helped employees do the screening quickly. When so much information is available online for free or for a fee, there is a fine line between what you can do and what you cannot. Both the employer and the employee may become perplexed.

You want to be as thorough and careful as possible when hiring and selecting from a group of potential applicants. Connecting with the right partner that can conduct an employment background check using modern tools is vital and will help you find the right employee.

6 vital background checks you must conduct -

Check Candidate’s History

Employers do reference checks to avoid hiring someone who could be a burden or a threat to the company. According to an AuthBridge survey, one in every six job seekers lies on their résumé. A job candidate’s work history, education, medical history, driving record, and criminal record are all part of a background check. Authenticating candidates’ social media profiles has also become a reliable screening method. However, United Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) introduced specific rules for background checks, including-

Checking Criminal Records

Criminal background checks are vital for every employer to utilize background screening techniques, but they are also one of the most complicated processes. Severe and minor crimes are the two basic types considered when doing a criminal record check. As an employer, you must set the rules for your business and draw the line regarding hiring and screening employees.

A person’s criminal background affects not just the safety of a company but also their overall performance and duty towards the company if hired. For instance, when you look for a stock manager to manage the inventory and funds, check to see if the person has ever been charged with theft or fraud. If you hire the candidate without conducting a criminal background check, your company will suffer.

Check Credit Score

A credit or CIBIL score is considered when an individual looks forward to applying for a credit card or loan. Credit background screening assists in validating a person’s credit-to-debt ratio record. Check the credit history of people who work in several banking jobs where fraud and theft are easy to commit.

Furthermore, suppose the company rejects a candidate’s profile based on a credit report. In that case, the candidate has the full right to present the express rationale and contact information for the credit reporting. In this way, if there is misinformation, there is a high chance of setting things right and getting your job back.

MVR Reports

If an employer is looking for a candidate to drive vehicles, checking the MVR report is vital. The MVR (Motor Vehicle Report) presents complete information if the employee has a valid license and drives safely. Furthermore, employers are subject to laws. One should use the rules of the Department of Transportation and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for MVR screening.

What information does an MVR check reveal?

Personal Background

There are over 200 million court records in India, and businesses have developed their own AI and ML-powered search algorithms. The technology offers accurate results, leaving no doubts in the minds of employers.

Individuals can screen themselves to see what employers or financial professionals see when they perform a background check. This helps them find out where they have worked and if their name is in any public database of lawsuits, both civil and criminal.

Background checks are an excellent method to catch any mistakes and not miss a job, loan, or opportunity to establish a business.

Professional License and Educational Background Check

Any company that wants to hire someone for a job that needs a certain level of education or a license should check the candidate’s license and education. Some work profiles, including teaching, IT, accounting, or others, require a special degree or certification. Many candidates may forge details about their educational qualifications to get the job.

An employer will use this method to compare the information on the resume with the information on the check. Partnering services have tools that can make the process of research more convenient. Candidates may overstate their degree, breadth of experience, work duties, or even their real job title in their CV and cover letter, so double-check the information they have provided.

5 steps to Perform Employment Background Check

Conducting a pre-screening of candidates benefits the company’s reputation, but how? It is difficult to obtain information that aids in determining staff capability and eliminating the need to hire additional staff. Also, before you do the background check of the candidate, here are 5 steps to consider-

Conclusion

Though conducting background checks is difficult, you have a variety of methods to assess the quality of the candidate. A background check helps keep the company’s reputation in good shape and keeps employees from leaving. It aids in raising staff productivity and improving recruiters’ hiring selections. It is your responsibility to stay safe rather than be sorry afterward. If you are using a background check partner, MIMOIQ is the leading company that will gather information using tools and offer you the report quickly.

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Blockchain: The Answer to an Efficient, Transparent Hiring Process?

How can blockchain help with the transparent hiring processs

Blockchain: The Answer to an Efficient, Transparent Hiring Process?

Blockchain technology has recently changed how employers and employment agencies find, screen, and verify job candidates. The recruitment process has transformed massively, helping recruiters find the right candidate. Global MNCs are increasingly turning to decentralized ledgers because blockchain provides security for safeguarding data integrity, like job histories or academic credentials. In September 2021, Block data research found that 65 of the top 100 publicly traded companies actively worked on blockchain solutions.

This constant change shows that modern hiring methods have improved over time, even though resume screening has mostly stayed the same. Back then, LinkedIn led the pack as a platform for employment, making life easier for job searchers and employers by hiring six applications per minute. Now, several comparatively modern technologies—like cryptocurrency and blockchain—show promise for employment.

Although there is technology adoption, the overall hiring process is still complex. It’s a big bet that blockchain will be the only way to solve all the problems with recruiting. Nevertheless, database processes and the automation of hiring processes are unavoidable.

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What makes blockchain an ideal option for recruitment?

Blockchain is a decentralized, open ledger configured to record anything of value. It is a public record of economic transactions. To put it another way, it is used to keep accurate records.

Furthermore, you cannot alter the digital record, and it is impossible to steal, remove, or change data that has already been placed on the chain. The hiring process will be simple when personal information like a person’s education, career history, and other work-related details are securely kept and exchanged on a real-time public digital ledger or blockchain.

A blockchain allows a recruiter to get information about a potential employee’s training and work history quickly, accurately, and in full. Therefore, it is impossible to accept a resume at face value, contact references directly, or spend excessive time poring through the LinkedIn profile of the candidate.

How can blockchain help with the transparent hiring process?

Many people may find it surprising that blockchain is becoming relevant in the recruiting market, thanks to its process for dealing with the collection of data.

 

But blockchain will continue to revolutionize the employment market.

Although blockchain is still in its infancy, it already has the potential to alter the way recruiters find prospects. Let us check how blockchain helps in recruitment-

Candidates cannot lie on their resume

People often lie on their resumes about their qualifications and jobs they’ve had in the past. According to reports, some candidates who applied for a job in the last six months would think about giving false information about themselves on their resumes to land their dream job.

With blockchain, however, this kind of data manipulation is no longer possible because people can no longer lie and add fake successes to their resumes, like title changes, raises, etc. Because blockchain technology is completely open and doesn’t have a single point of control, recruiters can store any information on their ledger, no matter how far away it is. Additionally, because of the decentralized nature of the blockchain, it will be difficult for anyone to provide fraudulent information because any call entry will be automatically rejected. Also, the information will show why the candidate was fired from their last job. Reasons could be anything from moonlighting to inaccuracies in work. Since employee moonlighting is a common thing, recruiters need to be confident.

Accuracy

Credentials of employers, candidates, and agencies verified using blockchain are trustworthy due to their accuracy in creating records. Every digital information is kept up-to-date and in the form of a permanent record of the candidate’s data.

Saves Valuable Time for Recruitment Professionals

Today, work is no longer confined to a single area. Because of this, it is now hard to find a candidate’s work history and confirm it. Blockchain, however, can speed up the verification process. From employment background checks to other details, the data will provide complete details and save valuable time. Imagine that you have used the conventional hiring procedure to find the ideal individual. You must now finish the recommendations. How will you carry that out?

A few alternatives are available, including contacting the candidate’s former employers or lecturers to complete the referral. But with blockchain, you will have to spend less time finding and talking to the previous employers of the person you want to hire. You can get the information quickly, thanks to blockchain technology.

Does Background check

Undoubtedly, a blockchain HR system can speed up background checks and referrals, giving recruiters instant access to candidates’ work and school history, etc.

All information, like past addresses, credentials, work history, visa status, and payment information, can be kept in a single blockchain application.

Using blockchain, it is possible to access the verified records and quickly and safely check all the information a candidate has sent in. A recruiter can hire the candidate because they are confident that the information provided by the candidate is as accurate as possible. Blockchain can also aid in multidimensional or skill matching when used with AI.

Complete the Contracting Procedure

Blockchain can help speed up the hiring process by making it easier to sign contracts with candidates. It can be done in seconds, just like running a background check. When you hire someone or bring them on board, you need to give them different login information, details, passcodes, security access codes, etc. As a recruiter, you might have to walk back and forth between different papers and departments to get and confirm the information you need to finish the profile of your new hire and put it into your system.

However, blockchain hiring technology can eliminate the need for all these employee contracting stages. Smart contracts on the blockchain make it possible to input employee information, obtain their payroll number, and access their employment contract quickly and precisely. On the other hand, paperwork always has an opportunity for error.

Complete Security

The distributed, decentralized design of the blockchain makes pre-employment screening more secure and reduces the chance of identity fraud. The distributed ledger replicates and cryptographically secures the candidate’s verified credentials. The user is in charge throughout the process and decides exactly what information about themselves to share and with whom.

Recruitment through blockchain: How long will it stay?

Employment background checks are a vital part of recruitment, and with the blockchain enabling the process, things are quite handy. Blockchain recruitment is a new thing that will stay for a long time. Some recruiters are not big fans of blockchain recruitment technology. Some others even think recruiters may lose their jobs if businesses use blockchain for human resources.

When you are reluctant to try something new and allow indecision to guide your choice, you stunt development and lessen the likelihood of finding novel and innovative solutions. Indeed, blockchain has already impacted many sectors, including banking, insurance, real estate, and finance. Cryptocurrencies built on blockchain technology are already widely used in commerce. It is now getting into the recruitment zone and is bringing massive change.

Takeaway

Want to utilize blockchain in hiring to its fullest potential? Or do you wish to incorporate blockchain technology into your company? Using MIMOIQ’s service can help you with a background check on an employee and other things.

Using modern tools, MIMOIQ makes business recruitment simple by integrating cutting-edge and futuristic technologies like blockchain, AI, and face recognition into your company.

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What is Employee Moonlighting? How to check for Dual Employment and Employee Moonlighting?

Employee Moonlightng

What is Employee Moonlighting? How to check for Dual Employment and Employee Moonlighting?

Recently, many top IT companies found that half the employee workforce is moonlighting (working for other companies simultaneously). Many got fired, prompting a stern reaction from companies. Dual employment, commonly referred to as “moonlighting,” involves working two or more jobs concurrently. Employees have been found doing a lot of work for two different companies at the same time. It puts the company’s data at risk and costs the company money. This increase in employee moonlighting is attributed to most workers remaining in a hybrid paradigm after the COVID pandemic and working from home most of the time.

Under the guise of working from home, moonlighting workers lead parallel lives. Employers will inevitably need to be re-verified utilizing cutting-edge authentication technologies.

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Understanding the Concept of Moonlighting

In America, working a second job and a normal 9-to-5 job gave rise to the phrase “moonlighting.” Some people began engaging in their passions in their spare time, while others began looking for part-time jobs. People often had two jobs at once and took advantage of working from home, especially in the IT sector. Employees of IT companies who moonlight are not subject to any laws. Plant employees are not allowed to hold dual employment under Indian labor rules.  Numerous employers include in their offer letters that an employee may not hold down two jobs at once or should refrain from doing so while employed. 

Employees should avoid moonlighting in such circumstances resulting in losing their jobs.

Laws of Moonlighting in India

It is acceptable to work numerous jobs in India without breaking the law. Although many businesses impose such restrictions in their employment agreements in addition to regulations against holding down other jobs, a person with a similar set of jobs may raise concerns about a breach of confidentiality. Moonlighting might be seen as cheating if an employee’s contract calls for non-compete and is quite common with most conventional employment contracts. Below is the brief about the laws of moonlighting in India-

According to Section 60 of the Factories Act of 1948, a worker cannot work simultaneously at two places of business. However, the definition of a worker in the Factories Act does not include an IT specialist or any employee performing administrative or managerial duties.

The Industrial Job (Standing Orders) Central Rules, 1946, state that a worker is not permitted to work against the industrial establishment’s interests or accept any side jobs that would endanger the employer’s interests.

Present Moonlighting Policies in India-

While many top companies are opposed to employee moonlighting, some support it. Let’s examine businesses that support moonlighting:

How to check Employee Moonlighting?

It can be difficult to track down dual work if you don’t know where to look. Employers can find out if their staff members are doing a second job or moonlighting in a few different methods. The most typical method is to check with the employee’s previous employers or have a background screening done on the suspect’s job history. Many firms forbid employees from holding down a second job.

Therefore, it is the most reliable method to determine if an employee is engaged in dual employment. Peeking at the employee’s pay stubs is another technique to verify. The pay stub for an employee should indicate which employers are paying them. Here are some suggestions on how to look out for-

Using AI-Powered Dual Employment Tool

There are AI-powered tools that companies can use to search for dual employment. It can help with end-to-end tech platforms ensuring an easy workforce and reduced data loss. Moreover, it will further help in reducing manual efforts and costs.

Through EPFO UAN

Using UAN for dual employment verification is a quick and easy way to find out about a current employee’s work history. This dual employment check method yields reliable results in the shortest time.

The tech-enabled procedure is precise and data-driven. Employees are eligible for Provident Fund and Employer’s Provident Fund benefits in any industry. Ex-employer information is collected using the UAN number, and verifications are opened and closed by the data. When you provide UAN numbers, the team checks to ensure the client has no other employment during their current tenure. If there is any dual employment, the case is flagged.

Screening the Financial Records

As an employer, you can check the financial records of the employees. Employees may receive revenue from another employment if paid more than they should be given their position or hours worked. It would help if you enlisted the aid of a company that performs employment background checks for this step. Research further if you have reason to believe your business simultaneously employs an employee at another job.

Check their Social Media Accounts

Many employees, especially those having LinkedIn accounts, usually post updates about their employment. You can check their updates to know if they are engaged in dual employment.

Doing Background Checks

When hiring any candidate for your company, it is essential to do a background check. It will help you know if the candidate has a history of doing any dual employment. Hire an agency that does employment background checks using different tools.

Benefits of Checking Dual Employment Moonlight by Employee

Examining employee moonlighting and dual employment has several advantages for the organization. You can prevent potential complications and problems by doing this. Employees might be unable to give their full attention to either job if they are doing two jobs, one of which is in a completely unrelated field. It can result in productivity and caliber.

Consider a situation where a worker has two occupations, one of which pays significantly more than the other. In that situation, a problem might develop. The worker might feel more loyalty to the position that pays more and less loyalty to the other. Problems with job satisfaction and turnover might result from this.

Additionally, you can prevent any legal problems by checking for Dual Employment and Employee Moonlighting with employment background checks. For illustration, imagine a worker with two jobs, one of which is in a distant state.

Other issues like tax problems, immigration, and data issues can arise. By proper check of dual employment can bring down these issues. Again, you can prevent these potential issues by checking Employee Moonlighting and Dual Employment.

Conclusion

The issue of employees moonlighting is delicate and complex for businesses to handle. The lack of clear legislation in this area makes it even more flexible to one’s interpretation. From the general population’s perspective, this is appropriate and fair. However, businesses or organizations don’t operate on the ideologies of good and wrong. There are laws, rules, and contracts to govern it. Which, if absent, can result in a chaotic, poorly managed setting.

By reducing these risks to a minimum, you can guarantee the smooth operation of your company. Working with background checks and pre-employment services will help you run your business smoothly by being aware of the law and taking precautions to look out for these behaviors. Use the right service to do the job perfectly and help you with background checks and dual employment threats.

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Can CIBIL Score affect your Job Prospects?

cibil score

Can CIBIL Score affect your Job Prospects?

The credit score is a three-digit numeric number representing a person’s credit history in India. This rating is based on an individual’s credit payment history across loan kinds and credit institutions over a set period of time, as recorded in the CIR. Credit-scoring organizations also notes a person’s payments, late payments, loan terms, and other factors. 

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Can a person's credit score have an impact on their job prospects?

This practice cannot be guaranteed because certain firms from other industries may examine your CIBIL score and credit record before shortlisting you for an interview. Many firms have begun to focus on an individual’s financial health in order to evaluate numerous human traits such as reliability and honesty, as time has passed. 

What Is A CIBIL Score and Why is It Important for Job Seekers?

The CIBIL score is a three-digit figure that ranges from 300 to 900 and is used to offer a summary of your loan and credit card payment history. This report outlines your loan and credit transactions with each bank and financial institution during a specific time period. Simply explained, your CIR is your credit report, and your CIBIL score is the credit ranking you receive based on your CIR’s performance. Your CIBIL score is a good indicator of your financial situation.

Although the CIBIL score’s primary function is to show your credit worthiness, it also aids in determining how financially responsible a job applicant is. Employers used to check a candidate’s CIBIL score only when he or she applied for certain jobs or profiles, but now practically every major private and public employer checks a candidate’s CIBIL score for all types of job openings. 

What factors do companies consider when reviewing credit check reports?

In this scenario, it’s important to analyze the employer’s perspective in order to properly understand why CIBIL scores are scrutinized before employing people. The following are some of the most common explanations: 

Checking Your Background

A background employment check is one of the legitimate reasons for investigating your credit record or score. A person with a poor CIBIL score, for example, may be perceived as reckless, and his or her talents may be seriously questioned. Companies are known to be hesitant to hire someone with a criminal past; in the near future, an individual’s severely poor credit score may have an impact on his or her career opportunities. As a result, poor credit and employment checks are intimately linked. 

Bad Characteristics Analysis

Would you trust someone with a low CIBIL score? Such a person might not be considered a trustworthy employee candidate, and his or her honesty would be severely scrutinized. The employer’s point of view functions and concerns a calm workplace atmosphere in this circumstance. 

 

In any instance, if the firm policy states that they will not hire anyone with a terrible credit record or a credit score below 650, even the most qualified individuals will be excluded from consideration. 

High Debt Trap Hampers Performance

Focusing on work becomes tough for someone who has a large debt hanging over his head. Employers who are keen on examining a person’s CIBIL score are fully aware of this reality. Financial troubles have a significant influence on work life, and they can completely derail your ability to deliver the exact outcomes that the employer requires. 

Are CIBIL scores checked by all employers and sectors?

Analyzing a person’s credit record is a relatively recent trend in India. Although it is not widely used, it is gradually becoming so in several industries. Currently, only senior-level interviews in the financial and IT sectors are used to test the CIBIL report. What may employers see on a credit check, you might wonder. Employers attempt to obtain a detailed understanding of the candidate’s financial transactions and credit management skills; thus, the response should be yes. 

A thorough examination of loans and payment patterns tells a great deal about a person’s nature. There are significant rumors that in the next years, all corporations will require candidates to submit their credit ratings as part of the interview requirements. 

What can one do in this situation?

It’s worth noting that the RBI has issued rules indicating that credit reports kept by businesses like CIBIL can only be accessed by banks and other financial institutions. Furthermore, inquiries from other businesses or groups are not considered. As a result, the need to present a CIBIL report in order to secure work is solely at the discretion of the firm giving the position. 

Is it possible to acquire a job with negative credit?

If you’re preparing to apply for a job, the first thing you should do is to perform a credit check and obtain reports to make sure there are no red flags. There are a few things you should keep in mind to ensure this: 

Repayment History

It is important to ensure that one’s loan/credit card payments are consistent and made on time. This is a major determinant of your credit score and report. Verify that your report contains no payment delays or non-payment penalty. 

Borrowing in Moderation

Most individuals aren’t aware of this, however borrowing excessively lowers your CIBIL score. If you have taken a large loan or overused your credit card to the point that your limit is almost surpassed, your credit score may suffer as a result. As a result, it is critical to limit credit usage.

Credit mix

To maintain a strong CIBIL score, an individual’s credit history should include a mix of secured and unsecured loans. If your credit record mainly contains unsecured loans, it may have a negative impact on your credit score.

Loan Requested or Accepted

It’s important to understand that when you seek a loan, a financial institution or bank may request your credit report. As a result, making too many inquiries in a short period of time may lower your score. If you’ve been turned down for a loan or a credit card, wait a long time before applying with another bank.

Resolve Conflict

There may be occasions when, owing to a communication mistake, erroneous information is provided to CIBIL, resulting in a negative impact on your report. As a result, a person should double-check his or her report to ensure that the correct information is being copied. Additionally, to avoid any type of dispute or quarrel, strive to bring it to the notice of CIBIL while also informing your bank of any mishap.

It’s a good idea to monitor your credit report routine. This would provide an opportunity to guarantee that your credit reports reflect well and, as a result, ensure that you do not miss out on future job prospects. 

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