Hiring the right employees is crucial to a company's success. Conducting in-depth interviews, evaluating a candidate's skills and experience, or performing thorough reference checks are only a few steps employers should take to ensure a potential hire will work out well. Conducting a background check is another step to consider before hiring a candidate, particularly for a sensitive or highly responsible position.

When using an agency to provide staff, you should know what skill assessment and reference verification standards are in place. It's also a good idea to work with your staffing agency to determine whether value-added services - such as a thorough background check - are necessary. Use your staffing agency as a consultant to help you decide if the position you are filling is appropriate for a background check, and how complete to make it.

An initial check is a standard routine for most staffing agencies - verifying the previous employment and other basic information of the candidate. This check is enough for the vast majority of placements. If a position has particularly unique aspects (i.e. CFO, Controller, Accounting Manager), you should consider more thorough background information. If you believe a background check is necessary before an employee is hired or assigned, check with your staffing agency to learn more about their procedures.

What to Expect
When working with a staffing agency, it is important to remember that it is the client's responsibility to request background investigations on candidates. Ask your staffing agency. They'll be more than willing to work with you to get the information you need. You can request several different types of background checks, including county and federal information searches. Because these checks are separate from each other, there may be a fee for each one. Select the types that are appropriate for your situation to avoid additional expense and unnecessary invasion of privacy.

If you request that your staffing agency perform background investigations, be sure the agency operates under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). This act attempts to balance the privacy rights of individuals with employers' interests in obtaining information.

Reasons for Background Checks
When hiring for special positions, such as those of high fiscal responsibility, sensitive public interaction or high company security, using a background investigation can increase your candidate information and improve hiring results. Here are some of the more obvious advantages:

• Learning that a candidate lied on the employment application
• Discovering a criminal record
• Uncovering a checkered credit history for a position that handles tangible assets (i.e. cash, credit cards or equipment)

Requesting a Background Check
When requesting a background check, follow this checklist to ensure you and your staffing agency are in compliance with state and federal laws and maintaining an individual's right to privacy:

• Have a legitimate business reason to conduct a background check.
• Appropriately narrow the scope of the background check.
• Notify the employee or applicant that a background check will be conducted.
• Obtain the written consent of the individual to be investigated.