The Importance of Researching Potential Employees

Welcome to the September 2022 edition of our newsletter!  In this issue, we’ll examine the importance of thorough pre-employment background research.

Checking Things Out: Steps for Successful Background Inquiries

With apologies to William Faulkner, the saying “the past is never dead, it’s not even past” seems to ring truer each day.  Whether it’s C-suite executives or Congressional candidates, several high-profile people have been caught embellishing their backgrounds, or outright lying about their past.  How can you protect yourself from a similar deception when making a hire?

Ultimately, reference checks and interviews will be useful, but first a thorough dive into an applicant’s past is essential.  Did they obtain the degree they claimed to have?  Are they licensed, as they said on their LinkedIn profile or resume?  If they have claimed military service, will the records back them up?

The methods for obtaining answers to these questions can vary – some entities will require the subjects’ written consent before providing past employment or education verification, for example, while licensing information is generally a public record.  Another useful step is to consider past employers when searching for litigation, news articles and other adverse information concerning the subject – did they sue their past employer, or were they sued by it?  Were comments made to the media about the subject’s departure from the company?

When considering a hire, many factors come into play – what that person can bring to the company in the future if they come aboard, and also what they’ve done in the past.  A look back at their career, with a careful and skeptical eye, can help inform a better hiring decision in the future.