Verity journal

When hiring new employees, many employers mistakenly believe background checks are only useful for identifying criminal histories. In fact, these checks provide a wealth of information that can help employers and businesses make informed hiring decisions, ensuring the safety and integrity of their workplace.

This guide explores the various types of information a background check will reveal as well as why each piece of information is critical for building a trustworthy and effective team and workforce.

Types of Information Revealed by Background Checks

Criminal Records

Background checks can uncover details of a candidate’s criminal history, including past convictions, arrests, or ongoing criminal cases. For industries such as retail, manufacturing, healthcare, education, and finance, where safety and trust are paramount, understanding a candidate’s criminal background helps employers evaluate potential risks and ensures a secure environment for clients, employees, and stakeholders.

Employment History

Verifying a candidate’s employment history ensures the accuracy of their resume. Background checks reveal:

• Previous job titles and roles, helping confirm the candidate’s experience aligns with the job requirements.
• Duration of employment, which ensures the candidate’s claims match verified timelines.
• Reasons for leaving previous roles, offering insights into their professional behaviour and career trajectory.

This process also identifies gaps or discrepancies, such as inflated job titles or false claims about responsibilities, enabling employers to make better-informed decisions.

Education Verification

An education verification check confirms a candidate’s academic qualifications, degrees, and certifications. This step involves:

• Checking the authenticity of degrees and diplomas directly with educational institutions.
• Verifying the dates of attendance and the field of study.
• Ensuring that certifications or professional training are relevant and recognized by industry standards.

Falsified educational credentials can lead to unqualified hires, making this aspect of a background check critical for roles requiring specialised knowledge or technical expertise.

Financial Background

For roles involving financial responsibilities or access to sensitive data, financial background checks provide essential insights into a candidate’s reliability and stability. These checks can uncover:

• Bankruptcy filings, which may indicate financial mismanagement.
• Credit history, revealing patterns of financial behaviour.
• Financial stability, a crucial factor for assessing risks in finance-related roles.

Understanding a candidate’s financial background is particularly critical in positions where fiduciary responsibility or access to sensitive information is involved, minimising the potential for fraud or embezzlement.

Professional Licenses and Certifications

Professional licenses and certifications are essential in regulated industries such as healthcare, law, and engineering. Background checks verify the validity and authenticity of these credentials, ensuring:

• The candidate’s qualifications meet the requirements of the role.
• Compliance with industry and legal standards.
• Up-to-date licensing, avoiding the risks of employing individuals who lack the necessary credentials.

Employers gain confidence knowing that candidates possess the expertise required to perform their roles effectively and ethically.

How Background Checks Are Conducted

Background screening services typically involve a combination of:

• Database Searches: Leveraging local databases to check criminal records, financial history, and other relevant information.
• Verification with Past Employers and Schools: Directly contacting former employers and academic institutions to confirm employment history and educational qualifications.
• Licensing Body Checks: Ensuring that professional licenses and certifications are current and valid.

To ensure confidentiality and comply with privacy laws, reputable providers like Verity Intelligence follow strict protocols. This includes adhering to Malaysia’s Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001:2022 accreditation from BSI, which upholds international standards for information security, cybersecurity, and data privacy protection.

What To Look Out for in Background Checks

Employers should pay close attention to the following red flags when reviewing background check results:

• Inconsistent Job History: Unexplained gaps or discrepancies between the resume and verified employment history.
• Criminal Records: Undisclosed convictions or arrests that could pose risks to workplace safety or company reputation.
• Fake Degrees or Licenses: Attempts to mislead employers with falsified academic or professional credentials.
• Financial Instability: Signs of financial distress, particularly for roles that involve financial responsibilities.

Benefits of a Comprehensive Background Check

Conducting thorough background checks offers numerous advantages, including:

• Building Trust: Employers can confidently hire individuals who have been vetted for their qualifications and integrity, fostering trust between employer and employee.
• Protecting Reputation: Avoiding fraudulent or unqualified hires minimizes risks of workplace incidents or reputational harm.
• Ensuring Legal Compliance: By conducting due diligence, employers meet legal standards and avoid potential liabilities associated with negligent hiring.

How Verity Intelligence Can Help

Verity Intelligence is a trusted provider of background screening services in Malaysia and Singapore. Their Singapore Work Pass product simplifies the mandatory background screening process for Work Pass applications, as required by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). Verity’s services include:

• Singapore Work Pass Applications such as Employment Pass (EP), S Pass, ONE Pass, Work Permit, Dependent Pass, and Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP).
• Education certificate authentication and accreditation verification to meet Singapore MOM’s stringent requirements.
• Fast, easy, reliable and efficient processing to ensure compliance and timely onboarding of employees.

With Verity Intelligence, employers can navigate Singapore’s regulatory landscape with ease, ensuring their hires meet all legal and professional standards.

In today’s competitive job market, knowing who you are hiring is more important than ever. Background checks reveal critical information that ensures candidates are qualified, trustworthy, and aligned with your company’s values.

Do not compromise on the quality of your hires. Contact Verity Intelligence today to conduct thorough and reliable background checks and take the first step towards building a safe and successful workforce.