Employing a new worker can be a challenging experience, regardless of how comprehensive your recruitment process is. One of the difficulties involved when recruiting new staff is ensuring that prospective candidates are providing accurate, truthful details on their CV.

It’s an issue that many organisations must be prepared for, and according to a report from NSW ICAC, 25% of people lie on their résumé and several high-profile organisations have hired individuals for senior roles who have engaged in resume fraud.

The report goes on to detail how major Australian retailer Myer discovered that it had hired a general manager for strategic and business development (on a $400,000 salary package) who had an extensive history of resume fraud, a criminal history and a string of terminations at previous companies.

Having a background checking process in place can help you avoid these kinds of issues and ensure that you know who you’re hiring, their background and professional experience. Selecting an appropriate background check provider ensures transparency at the recruitment stage, saving time and expense.

The Problem With Poor Background Checking

Companies that don’t carry out relevant background screening on candidates may find themselves in a vulnerable position. Businesses operating in the transport and logistics sector, for example, need to confirm employees have the right licences necessary for the position, and verify a clean driving record for workers who will spend time on the road.

For roles that involve management of a large amount of sensitive, confidential data or financial information of the company or its clients, for example, making sure any potential candidates have no history of fraudulent behaviour is essential.

For example, in a July 2016 case in New Zealand, a man was found to have funnelled hundreds of thousands of company funds to personal bank accounts, a decade after being convicted of defrauding a former employer of over $1 million.

Had the employer in this case carried out suitable criminal records checks before hiring, the earlier conviction would have been discovered, allowing the organisation to make a better hiring decision.

This example identifies the key benefit of thorough background checks – they offer business leaders valuable insight into potential candidates, meaning the decisions at the point of hire can be made with a greater level of confidence in the new worker.

A comprehensive background screening process should include not only police checks, but employment history, qualification and work rights checks.

Understanding Your Criminal Background Check Options

Whether omitting a minor indiscretion from their past or blatantly hiding serious charges that will exclude them from continuing their career, there are many reasons why a candidate might neglect to mention elements of their criminal history when applying for a job.

Depending on the nature of the crime, your organisation has the right to determine whether someone is suitable for your vacancy, but you obviously need accurate details to make such a decision.

It’s important to verify the driving record of workers in the transport industry. Depending on the specific candidate, your organisation can consider two options:

Police Checks – In Australia, background checks are conducted with information accessible to employers through the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC). Across the Tasman in New Zealand, the Ministry of Justice holds criminal conviction data, again accessible to employers investigating the background of their applicants.

International Police Checks – In a highly diverse and multicultural workforce, it’s common for job applicants to come from all over the globe. According to the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection, almost 100,000 skilled worker visas were applied for in 2014/15, so conducting international police checks is an important part of the employment process.

Depending on the location you are investigating, a criminal background check can be carried out quickly, with results available in a manner of minutes in some cases.

That speed can be crucial when finding the best employee, allowing you to move through the employment process more easily and fill your vacancies sooner. Before your next hire, consider what background screening processes are appropriate for your organisation.

WorkPro aggregates all of the essential Background and Probity Checks alongside other crucial compliance components like Licence, Ticket and Document, Employment Medical Checks and a thorough library of 40+ Induction and eLearning Modules. One platform, one compliance solution.