Don’t Select until You Check: Expected Background Checking Practices

Background checking (BC) is a process of verifying job-related information provided by job applicants. The use of recommended BC methods and practices was investigated through a survey of companies. On average, employers used five BC methods and 15 BC practices. Companies tend to perform the same BC across all types of positions. Forty-seven percent of companies outsourced BC. Several factors influenced BC such as the size of the company, outsourcing, who is responsible for BC, perceived effectiveness and the amount of time spent on BC. Practices to handle criminal convictions, arrests and inconsistencies during BC are identified. The implications of these findings for future research and practice are discussed.