Recruiting - The Advance Group

Modern Day Compensation: What Do Employees Value These Days?

Raza Rauf on March 14, 2012

Modern day compensation is not all about the money. While many companies are focusing on driving key professionals into their organizations, if they only focus on providing a paycheck, they could miss the best professionals in the market. While a salary needs to remain competitive, it is far from the only thing that today’s professional wants to switch jobs or to accept one offer over the other. For any employer or HR recruiter looking for a top-notch candidate, there is more to dangle as a carrot than just a high paycheck.

What Else Candidates Want

Employees value a great number of things. Just a few years ago, employer loyalty was enough. Those who had a job were not tempted to leave for another offer because they were happy with what they were doing. Now, it is easy for employees to go from one company to the next especially when the incentives to do so are better than where they are right now. How can your business be the greener grass for those employees you are after?

Take a look at some of the other values employees have a desire for in today’s workforce. If your company cannot or does not offer these, it could be missing out.

Employees want to have the ability to make decisions. From simple ones to more complex project management decisions, employees want to be trusted enough to do their job. By empowering employees, they perform better, too.

Employees want job security. In a company that is struggling, it will be hard to entice a key player into the ranks. Job security often translates into a company they will want to work with for a long period, too.

All employees want respect. They want to know that you value their opinion and that their abilities matter to the company. Actions and words make a big difference in whether a company is worth working with for the long term.

They want a challenge. Sometimes, the company that can offer the experienced executive the biggest challenge with the best reward can also be a better option than the easy job. If an employee does not feel they are using their skills in their current position, they may be willing to talk to another company who can challenge them.

They want perks and incentives, but they want to do their job their way. Having access to MP3 players on the job or being able to incorporate a more laid-back attitude is important especially to the younger generation. A business that wants to find great employees needs to communicate with those employees about their desires.

For those businesses and HR managers looking for the best of the best in talent, remember it is more than just money that candidates want. Have confidence in the employee. Give them the freedom necessary to do their job their way. In the end, the company ends up benefiting by attracting better employees who are happy to stick around.

Salary Negotiating Tips for Employers

Raza Rauf on February 29, 2012

Salary negotiations are always tricky when hiring new staff members. As a hiring manager you do want to be fair to new employees coming in; but, you have a responsibility to the company as a whole. There is a delicate balance between what is desirable, what is acceptable, and what is fair – for all parties. Keep these things in mind as you negotiate salaries with new hires or hopefuls and see if you can enjoy a favorable experience for everyone involved.

Attempt to Find a Salary Where Everyone Wins

The bottom line is that if you bring in new staff members with a salary that’s moon and stars higher than other people with similar responsibilities in the company it will breed resentment and make for an uncomfortable work situation (not to mention quite a few other unhappy staff members). If you make an offer that’s too low you miss out on the benefit of the candidate’s potential contribution to your organization (after possibly months of careful selection).

Be Prepared for a Counter Offer

You know, better than anyone else how much you can afford to pay and how much you feel the position merits. In other words, you also know how much you’re willing to pay. Usually there is a salary range that would be acceptable. Make your offer near the lower end or middle of that range and be prepared (you should even expect) a counter offer. This gives you a little negotiating room of your own when the time comes.

Keep Your Offers Appropriate for the Location

You’re not going to bring in new talent to high-salary, high-tech areas if you’re offering low-ball salary options. It’s just not going to happen. They won’t be able to afford the parking much less rent or a house note. If you want to attract top talent then you’re going to have to come up with a salary offer that is appropriate to salary situation in the local landscape.

Present the Salary Offer as Part of a Package

Don’t give a verbal salary offer. Present the salary offer as if it is part of something bigger – a “golden” benefits package. Some benefits matter more to employees than other benefits. Benefits you may offer include: generous vacation or PTO (paid time off) packages, profit sharing, stock options, tuition reimbursement, relocation expenses, matching funds for charitable donation, health benefits, retirement benefits, on-site recreational benefits, extended holidays, etc. It could be that you have a benefit package that is attractive enough to your candidate to make him or her overlook a lower salary.

Negotiating salaries with new hires may seem like a complex situation but if you display a fair-minded and balanced approach throughout the process it will work in your favor more often than not.

The Importance of Hiring a Social Candidate – Who Doesn’t Just Look Good on Paper

Raza Rauf on February 8, 2012

Hiring the right candidate takes more than just looking at what the professional can do based on his or her paper application. Many employers are spending time researching and learning about candidates more fully, outside of the standard resume. Recruiters want to know if a candidate is social and what their social skills are doing for them. After all, in a globally connected world, it is critical to communicate at the best level and that means being a socially active person, both online and offline.

What Is a Social Candidate?

The right candidate for any position needs to have the proper technical skills and the experience necessary to do the job. However, soft skills, including communication skills, are just as vital. Those who have limited social skills often lack the ability to use the knowledge they have to do their job properly. Turnover is higher. They often struggle with relationships within the workplace. Some never move from lower level positions due to their inability to communicate. They can even contribute to a poor morale among employees.

On the other side, a social candidate is one that does embrace working with others and has good communication skills to back it up. These professionals may stand out in an interview but they also stand out when researching them online. Here are some of the features to look for in the social candidate.

Choose someone that understands and monitors the way his or her actions affect those around them.
Does the candidate show concern for others through their actions and words? Do they understand how to manage other people’s feelings?
Does the individual have good control over him or herself in terms of communication? When expressing emotions, do they do so in a negative, abusive or destructive manner? You do not want these traits in your workplace.
Are they socially active? Often times, just noticing if a candidate is active in communicating with others (usually in a positive manner) helps indicate how effective communication skills are. Comparatively, a candidate that is not social active could be a factor.
Is the individual highly judgmental? Does he or she describe others in a negative light or in a positive one? Those candidates that do not express positive insight but only negative information are often problematic in the workplace.

Why do social skills like these really matter to you?

As a business professional, every detail of the way a person looks, acts and speaks reflects directly on your business. A person that dresses inappropriately, for example, does not represent your company well. Likewise, hiring a candidate that has poor communication and social skills can mean that person’s interactions with your clients and business partners, as well as employees, can be negative. Rather, hire a social candidate with the skills to communicate properly and you could score a candidate you want to work with long term.

Haven’t Hired in a While? Advice for Recruiting New Hires

Raza Rauf on January 7, 2012

After a period filled with economic uncertainty, many companies are facing a new dilemma. They now need to fill positions that were either vacated or eliminated over the past several years. The problem is that many companies have had a freeze on hiring for long enough that they’ve gotten out of the practice of hiring altogether.

Here are a few tips that are sure to get you back in the habit of effective recruiting before you know it.

Know What You’re Looking For

Before you can come up with a proper recruitment plan you need to know exactly what kind of employee you’re looking to hire. What positions need to be filled? What qualities or traits make a prospect a good fit with your corporate culture? Are you willing to take big risks in order to find truly innovative staff or do you prefer to stick with traditional characteristics and experience for the position in question?

These are all important questions that can really shape the hiring and interview processes. Once you’ve identified the kind of employee you need or want to hire then you can begin the search in earnest.

Set Deadlines to Find Qualified Candidates

It’s easy to get lost in a sea of maybe and tomorrow. Time is a luxury you don’t have when you need someone to pick up slack or start making changes now. Give yourself a hard deadline to find a group of solid candidates and set up interviews.

Once you have a deadline in place you can tailor your search process to get the fast results you need. An added sense of urgency can serve as a huge motivation and help keep you on target for the “less glamorous” aspects of looking for new hires.

Utilize Every Available Recruiting Option

You are no longer relegated to a time when the Sunday paper was your best recruitment tool. The rules have changed and technology is changing them even more. Don’t forget to place notices of positions on your company website. Make sure you’ve made it mobile device friendly as well as many people are conducting their job searches on the go these days.

Take advantage of recruitment services, like Advance Temporary Services. You’ll be surprised at how effective they can be (and cost effective) by eliminating the daily grind of finding new, highly skilled candidates for the positions you have available. More importantly, they can do the hard work of prequalifying candidates for the positions you have available so that you’re only seeing the best of the best available and not forced to sift through many unqualified applicants that aren’t likely to be a good fit for the culture of your company.

Social media is another excellent tool you can put at your disposal to find a sea of applicants for your positions. You just might find the perfect choice in short order. More importantly, you’ll have a list of qualified people the next time a position becomes available.

Recruiting new hires doesn’t have to be a painful prospect – even after a long absence. This is cause for celebration; not dread. Just keep these tips in mind and you’ll have the cream of the crop knocking on your door before you know it. For help finding the best employees this year, contact Advance Temporary Services!

Photo Credit: Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

4 Things You Should Include in an Administrative Professional Job Description

Raza Rauf on December 21, 2011

A good administrative professionals’ job description should clearly and concisely state what the job entails, including the position’s purpose, responsibilities, duties, and qualifications. It shouldn’t be overly detailed or unduly simplistic, but the job description should be customized to the needs of the person or team who the assistant is supporting. An administrative professionals’ workload can vary significantly by company, but there are some general tips for putting together the job description.

Here are four areas you’ll want to include when writing a job description for an administrative professional:

1) Purpose of Position. Outline the basic role or function of the administrative position. You’ll want to include who the administrative professional is working for. Will the administrative professional be supporting a Manager, Director, or President of the Company? It’s essential to put into writing whether the administrative professional is employed to support one executive or a collection of positions to avoid confusion later on.

Include a general overview of the duties and responsibilities of the position, but don’t get too detailed — you’ll be providing the specifics in the “Duties and Responsibilities” section of the job description.

Take a look at this sample administrative professional position purpose: “To perform general administrative duties and provide support to the Executive Director as requested.

2) Duties and Responsibilities. Within the duties and responsibilities section, provide the exact primary task details of what will be required by the position holder. Typical duties of an administrative professional include booking travel, taking minutes in meetings, scheduling and managing a calendar, correspondence preparation, screening calls, opening and sorting mail, along with a host of other general administrative duties. Use a bullet format to list duties and start each task or responsibility with an action verb, such as sort, create, maintain, etc. To cover all basis, reserve the last bullet to include any other duties or tasks that may be required.

3) Minimum Qualifications. In the minimum qualifications section you’ll need to include the number of years experience working in an office environment or reporting to a particular management or executive level. Further, if the position requires educational credentials, such as secretarial training or an associates degree, you’ll also provide this information here.

Warning! Be sure to exclude any statements that could be viewed as against the Equal Opportunity Employment (EEO) laws, such as those making references to race, sex, color, religion, age, national origin, physical limitation, or mental disability.

4) Skills. Administrative professionals are often required to have extensive software skills, especially in today’s digital age. Make sure you list all required software skills, such as Power Point, Adobe, Photoshop, Word, Excel, Quicken, or any other software product unique to the business. Other skills typically required of Administrative Professionals include good communication skills, writing skills, dictation, transcription, records management, basic bookkeeping, basic website updating, and customer/client service.

After reading through the job description, administrative professional applicants should have a good understanding whether they have adequate knowledge, skills, and experience to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the position effectively.

What is an Interviewer REALLY Asking When They Say “Tell me About Yourself”?

Raza Rauf on November 27, 2011

You are in an important interview for a job you really want at a company that gets you really excited about your career. As you sit across from the potential employer, you smile and know things are going well. Then, they ask the question, “Tell me about yourself?” What do you say to that?

The common answer that interviewees give is about their work experience. Some will discuss their personal lives. Others will answer with comments about what they like to do and what they did last night. None of these answers is the right one from the perspective of the person giving the interview.

What’s He Really Saying?

When heading to an interview, realize that the person asking you questions is not always going to be looking for the answer to that question. In other words, he or she may ask one question but is probing for a completely different one. It is up to you to understand the true meaning of any question prior to answering it. This is not always an easy process, though.

In order to know what the interviewer is really saying, you need to do two big things: listen to the entire question and notice any cues he is giving you. If you can do those things, you will be able to answer any question, including this one accurately.

What Is the Interviewer Looking for in Those Questions?

In most situations, a job interviewer is looking for the best candidate to fill a specific position. To learn if the person sitting across from them at the desk is that person, he needs to find the answers to some very specific questions, including these.

Can you do the job? Will you do the job?
What special skills do you have that others do not have that makes you a better choice?
What experiences do you have that makes you a better choice over other applicants?
What do you have to offer to me that is something the company is lacking?

Knowing what information the interviewer is after, you can provide a better answer to the question asked to you. Ask yourself, how you can answer these questions in a way that provides the information the interviewer is really looking for you to provide.

Know the Cues

Secondly, notice any cues that the interviewer is putting out there. These can be key indications of what information is necessary and what may not be. More so, the cues are often signals to you as to how you should answer questions. For example, the following are some cues you may see.

The interviewer is distracted by something else in the room.
The interviewer is interrupting your replies, which shows he or she is impatient.
He keeps looking at the wall.
He is slouching.
He is listening intently to what you are saying.

If the interviewer seems distracted, he or she may be annoyed with how long your answers are. If he is interrupting, you may not be answering in the right manner.

Tell Me About Yourself

Keeping all of this in mind, the answer to this question comes down to just a few things. Can you communicate well with others? Do you have the ability to set goals and to stay on track? Can you handle rejections? In other words, are you able to answer these questions in a way that delivers the responses he or she needs?

Get ready for a great new part time or full time career when you work with Advance Staffing Solutions. Let us help you get ready for those upcoming interviews so you can be successful in your quest for the right job.

Job Offer Letters: What to Include and What to Avoid

Raza Rauf on November 21, 2011

People who enjoy watching horse racing are familiar with horses coming “out of the gate”. This term refers to how smoothly a horse leaves the starting gate, which can give the horse a good starting position in the race. It also helps to contribute to how successful the horse will be.

In a way, this idea can also refer to new employees. Hiring companies and new candidates know that a good start is beneficial to both. A good job offer letter can be the beginning component of this successful start. Here are some elements of what should be included in an offer letter, and what should be left out.

Job offer letters should specifically state the job title and location of the position. Identifying the job title confirms to the candidate what the actual job duties will be. Location is helpful if there are multiple locations for the company. The letter should also mention the start date of the job. These may seem obvious items to express in the letter, but they minimize confusion for new employees not familiar with the company. Effective communication of details sets the tone for good rapport with the company. In addition, a designated contact person needs to be stated on the letter.

Many companies are at will employment agencies. This means they have the ability to hire and fire at will. Some companies in a union environment have an established procedure for the termination of employees. Job offer letters should include information that the business is an at-will company so that new workers are aware of this from day one.

Letters should also clarify the compensation for the position. This may have been addressed in the job announcement and at the interview. For purposes of clarification, pay should be included in writing. This should not be done on basis of annual salary but what it will be per pay period. Knowledge of their compensation helps new workers when they need to make adjustments in their lives with their employment such as added cost of a longer commute.

Some form of feedback should be given by the new employee. This can be in the form of an email confirming receipt of letter and acceptance of employment. Some companies also make it a policy to have the candidate sign, date and return the letter verifying acceptance of the employment offer. Businesses need to make this decision based on their need. Any letter written should be simple, professional and direct.

Avoid making statements regarding job security as anything in writing can become a legal document if problems occur and arbitration is necessary in the future. Nothing should be mentioned regarding the length of employment. Personal statements should be kept out such as “we are sure you will have a long future with us”.

For more information on writing offer letters, be sure to visit our employer resources found at Advance Temporary Services.

Confessions of an HR Manager: Why I Love a Great Staffing Agency

Raza Rauf on November 15, 2011

A special thank you to our client, Meredith Soleau, Human Resources Director at Ed Schmidt Auto, Inc. for writing this post.

I’ll never forget the first time I called Advance Staffing Services. I was beyond stressed.

My Lead Administrative Assistant was going to be out for a medical emergency, and we had no idea when she would be able to return to work. It was a total crisis. Visions of me answering the phone and making customer receipts danced through my head.

I needed help. Thus began the beautiful relationship between the Ed Schmidt Auto Group and Advance Staffing.

Finding help that day was easy. It was honestly easier than ordering a pizza. They delivered Jacque to our doorstep the next morning, and she was absolutely perfect. She handled the Administrative position much better than I ever could have, and she was already trained! We ended up loving Jacque so much that we’ve found her a permanent position in our company, and she is now our employee.

I’ve really relied on Advance Staffing over the years. I call them for a variety of staffing needs.

Temporary Assignments: They handle both short and long term temporary assignments.
Temporary to Hire: I can “test” and employee and decide if they would be a perfect fit before I hire them on my staff.
Direct Hires: They take care of my entire recruiting process.
Professional Search: They seek out the top talent in the industry and feed me the best. This is especially useful when you never stop recruiting for very hard to find, niche positions.

As the head of a small HR department, I’ve found there are many advantages to using a staffing agency.

Cost & Time Effective
My time is worth money. The time it takes to recruit, hire, and train an employee is valuable. And when I make a hiring mistake? It’s not as if I can just send them away. There are additional costs involved with replacing someone and leaving a position open during that time.

Advance Staffing removes cost per hire/cost of turnover concerns from the equation. If I am not 100% satisfied with whom they’ve sent – they send me someone else. If I need someone tomorrow – I have them on time, every time.

I no longer spend time to placing expensive help wanted advertisements, weeding through 100’s of resumes, interviewing, and waiting on background checks. I simply call them and they deliver quality people time and time again.

It’s Flexible
I need extra help during our busiest times of the year. The car business is cyclical, and I don’t want to be saddled with actual employees that would need to be terminated during out slower months. So whether I need a little extra help during our annual inventory audits or extra people to assist with customers, it’s great to know I can adjust my staff size with temporary help based on business need.

Forming Relationships
Jacque is a perfect example of how long lasting relationships can be built with Advance Staffing employees. She was able to show us her abilities, and when a position opened in our company, we were able to hire her. She was noticed as a top performer before I ever had to place an advertisement. A connection was made between us (the employer) and Jacque (the employee).

At the end of the day, that’s what human capital is all about. Humans.

Want to work somewhere FUN? Prepare for an interview at an employer with a unique company culture.

Raza Rauf on November 13, 2011

In many companies today there is a focus on providing not only a great salary and benefits package, but also on giving employees a fun atmosphere to work in. This movement started with the first company that decided a casual, fun workplace was more conducive to happy and productive employees—and for good reason. Studies have consistently shown that happy employees lead to higher levels of productivity, which translates to more revenues and greater creativity. This leads to innovation like never before seen. Just think Google and Apple and you get the general idea.

As you start interviewing for new assignments, you may encounter companies that promote this “fun” workplace. In order to put the best foot forward, it’s best to prepare in advance for a different style of interviewing you may experience. Here are some ways to get ready for an interview at the next funhouse company.

Before the interview, review the corporate website and any articles that pertain to the company as a whole. You will generally be able to learn much about a company by reviewing any press that the company has received, including the executive leadership. Try to understand what the company stands for by reading the mission statement. This will come in handy when you are asked to come in personally for an interview.

If you have the opportunity, speak with the direct hiring recruiter to find out what the general corporate culture is like. Ask what the inside of the building is like, what are some of the events that the company has, and what the general population of the existing staff are like. Does the workplace include any on-site perks like a café, coffee shop, exercise center, a skateboard or bike path, entertainment spaces or other aspects of a fun environment?

Check with your staffing agent to find out what the dress code will be for the initial interview, because he or she has been inside the company. If the agent tells you business casual, be prepared to dress smartly for the interview, but not too over the top with a suit and tie, or too casual with jeans and flip flops. If this fun work environment includes ultra-casual attire, wear at least khakis and a collared shirt to avoid appearing too “stuffy”. Dress codes do vary from one fun workplace to another, so don’t assume to know what will be expected of you.

Ask around to see if any of your personal contacts know anyone who works at your target company currently. If you normally associate with people in the particular industry you are trying to get employed in, chances are someone knows a little more about the company than you, or has had a chance to visit there for an interview. Friends within the company can also shed more light on what it’s really like to work in that environment, which can give you more to go on as you interview. You’ll likely get a more accurate picture of what the fun environment is about, rather than a somewhat biased view from a recruiter who is trying to court you for a job there.

Remember, that you only get one chance to make a positive impression, and that the company has one shot to entice you to want to work there. Sometimes what seems like a “fun” environment to others may not be the right environment for you to work in. On the other hand, it may be the perfect place for you to grow in your career.

Why it’s Important to Conduct Background Checks, and How to Do It the Right Way

Raza Rauf on November 4, 2011

There are many good reasons why it’s important to conduct background checks for all potential new hires. For one, people are not always who they say they are in the interview process. People will very often say anything to get a job, especially when there is an average of 10% unemployment rate in the country as of this article. Conducting a background check protects not only the company, but also the existing and future staff at the company, from possible issues such as workplace violence, theft and property damage.

Did you know that in just 2009, there were nearly 572,000 non-fatal crimes that occurred in workplaces around the USA? These figures were released by the Justice Department Bureau of Justice Statistics’ newly released publication, Workplace Violence, 1993-2009. Those figures may seem staggering, but more and more cases of workplace violence and crime are making the news daily. It’s important to reduce the chance of workplace crime by conducting thorough background checks as part of the new hire process.

A best practice for conducting background checks is to use a reputable employment background check company to objectively provide information on candidates before an offer of employment is made. This information can be obtained within a matter of days by a good background check company, but keep in mind that all candidates must give their written consent to this check. Require each candidate to sign a background release form, which gives you permission.

Another best new hire practice is to check employee references, from past employers. Find out if the candidate is being truthful about his or her work titles, duties, dates of employment, and reason(s) for termination. While sometimes a candidate may use an incorrect date or embellish actual work duties on a resume, look for glaring differences in the information provided by the candidate vs. the actual information received by references.

You will also want to require a drug test as part of the background check. You would be surprised at the types of people who are actively engaged in drug usage in this country – an epidemic that has spread to all socio-economic communities. Again, do this before making any offer of employment, and make sure to consistently check all candidates regardless of the job itself.

Lastly, work with a quality staffing company that can conduct background checks for all your candidates. This can save you a great deal of time and money with your recruiting efforts. Any candidates will have already been checked for criminal histories, drug use, false information, and more before they have a check to become part of your corporate environment.

Want more information on how using a staffing agency to conduct your background checks can best work for your company? Consult with the career experts at Advance Temporaries today!

Should You Avoid Hiring Over-qualified Applicants?

Raza Rauf on October 6, 2011

As our nation faces even more challenges in the job market, recruiters everywhere continue to encounter a great influx of candidates for fewer job openings than ever before – many of whom are overqualified. While this can be a difficult situation for any hiring manager to decide if taking a risk on an overqualified candidate or not, there is actually some good that can come out of this scenario.

You may not want to avoid hiring candidates who are over-qualified after all….here’s why.

Over-qualified actually means more experience. The person that is deemed over-qualified for a specific assignment may be able to bring your team more than you can imagine. Instead of having just the basic skills to do the job, the over-qualified person has gathered a nice amount of real-world work experience that can translate to better ways of doing things. Your organization can use this experience to help bring other team members up to speed faster, as well as mentoring opportunities.

Experienced candidates are dedicated to their careers. You may find this surprising, but a vast majority of seasoned job seekers are actually trying to maintain a solid career path. That’s why they are applying for work at your company because they are dedicated to furthering their careers through relevant positions. The trick to keep these more experienced employees on board is to make sure they are compensated and challenged enough in their roles.

Career-minded candidates tend to desire more stability. For candidates who place a emphasis on gaining long-term career success, your task is to make sure your company can provide somewhat of a stable experience. This means having a clear succession plan in place to give top performers somewhere to go on the corporate ladder over time. While a lower level spot may be all you can offer presently, knowing that there is more to offer will keep experienced candidates on board.

Stable employees mean more successful long-term placements. The great thing about focusing on serious candidates, even if they do seem overqualified, is that their interest lays in finding stable employment. This translates to employees who will most likely stick around for a longer period of time, than job hoppers and youthful inexperienced candidates who don’t know their status. Choose seasoned candidates for lower staff turn-overs.

Want to find highly qualified candidates to fill critical positions in your company? Check out the best source of skilled employees here at Advance Temporary!

Why It’s Important To Conduct Background Checks and How To Do It Legally

Raza Rauf on September 23, 2011

The hiring of new employees can be sort of like walking a tightrope. It is important to find the right candidate with the qualifications and integrity to do the job, but in today’s hiring climate it’s impossible to accept clients at face value. To be effective in hiring practices involves delving into the background of applicants to get a better idea of their abilities and employment performance. However, this has to be measured with respect for the privacy of each individual candidate as well as staying compliant with relevant laws. The purpose of the background check is to help evaluate aptitude and skills and needs to be carried out with this the primary goal.

Verify Employment Qualifications

Any employer can be overwhelmed with the number of resumes received for an open position. There could be several applicants with outstanding qualifications to do a job. It can be difficult to determine one that sticks out. At the basic level, the background check is to determine if information provided by an applicant is true and accurate. It also helps paint a picture about the applicant beyond what is on paper or discovered in a short interview. Previous employers give an idea of what kind of work habits an applicant has. References can provide information on personal characteristics.

Protecting the Organization

The background check can be considered as a preemptive measure to ensure the integrity of the organization and the safety of employees. Individuals may not be appropriate for certain positions due to some aspect of their history. Someone with a criminal background may not be appropriate for a security officer position. If someone has had issues with substance abuse, they may not be able to work in a hospital with accessibility to drugs and medication. Certain kinds of information can only be found with a background check.

Legal Issues with Background Checks

One of the most important aspects of the background check is that information is gathered for job related purposes. Some activities of a background check may not be necessary. It is easy for an organization to go overkill in a background check to err on the side of caution. Before a background check is initiated, evaluate what the purpose is for it. Certain information such medical and credit history require written consent from the applicant.

Background checks may be somewhat different for applicants and should be planned on a case by case basis, however they must be consistent for all candidates. If an applicant feels they were discriminated against for not being selected for a job, they can file a lawsuit against the hiring authority. If subject to review, any background investigation needs to reflect being strictly part of the hiring process based on ability and not personal private information.

The background investigation can be an essential part of the hiring process. It is a tool that helps identify qualifications of applicants. The hiring authority needs to take care in collecting information to get what they require without violating the privacy of applicants.

For quality pre-screened candidates, consult with the staffing experts at Advance Temporary today!