As a business owner, you know how very important it is that you have the right people working on your team of employees. For this reason, you must take extra special care during the recruitment and hiring process to identify those candidates that are the best for the position, as well as those candidates that could end up costing you a lot of money if you took them on as new hires. It goes without saying that job applicants put their best face forward when presenting themselves to you for potential hiring. While this is great for them, it puts you at a disadvantage. To hedge this risk, some employers conduct background checks on candidates they are interested in. Should you hire a private investigator to conduct background checks for your business? Here are some things to consider when making that all-important decision:
Why a private investigator? While it’s true that you should be able to conduct basic background checks yourself as long as you are willing to invest some time and effort into research (and a little bit of footwork), it’s also true that, as a layperson, you simply aren’t in the position to conduct thorough and comprehensive background screenings that can uncover the real dirt. If it’s the oft-hidden and insipid details that are most important to your hiring decision, then a private investigator is the way to go.
Legality and licensing. It is also worth noting that not all types of personal information is legally available to you, and that a reputable private investigator will know exactly what must be done during a background check in order to stay on the right side of the law. Additionally, there is some information that is simply not available to the public, no matter how great your investigation skills are; in these cases, that information may be released only to a licensed private investigator.
How extensive should your background checks be? This will determine whether or not you need the services of a private eye. Not all businesses have the same background screening needs. For example, if you run a daycare, then a sex offender screening is an absolute necessity; if you run a financial advisement brokerage, then a credit check should be a component of your background screening. Consider what, exactly, you need to know about your potential employees and make a list of information your background checks should have. Then decided whether or not you are able (or willing) to gather all of that information yourself, without the help of a private investigator.
Should you recruit the services of a private investigator for your business’ background screenings? There is no right or wrong answer to that question, but you can click here to read more about private services like this. Take inventory of the specifics of your situation, with these considerations in mind, when making that decision.