Background Check Blog

Not all background screening companies provide the same products or offer the same value in exchange for quoted services. Whereas some companies offer an online-only interface, other companies act as an advisor and partner, helping clients navigate compliance risks and run a background screening program that works seamlessly alongside other talent management activities.

Background checks help organizations manage hiring risks by providing information about candidates’ criminal, employment, and educational histories. Just as there are many different background check products and services, there are also many service providers, each with its own methods for searching for and delivering background information. In many ways, who performs your background checks is just as important as what kind of background checks you conduct.

Your organization likely already works with a variety of vendors to help manage work processes and complete special projects. In many ways, the vendors you work with are an extension of your organization, especially if they place individuals on-site in the workplace. For example, in an environment such as a hospital or health system, per diem or traveling nurses, and even volunteers, have access to patients and sensitive areas. How well you know those vendors—and their employees—can have sizable implications for your organization.

The request for proposal (RFP) process can be a great way to understand the product and service offerings of different companies. Distributing a consistent set of questions and requirements to prospective providers through the RFP process is your chance to be in the driver’s seat and choose the partner best suited to your organization’s needs. 

Background screening is an essential part of your hiring process, and you need to derive maximum value in exchange for your investment. Though value-bundling may seem like a great way to get better value for your background screening dollar, it can actually increase your hiring risk rather than help you manage it.

You need high-quality background checks to help your organization stay in compliance and minimize hiring risks. But if your background screening provider doesn’t use the most accurate, up-to-date sources of information, or if they prioritize speed over quality, the risks increase. As a result, you could unwittingly make a bad hire and bring harm to your organization in the form of fines, lawsuits, and reputational loss.