Hiring new employees to join your team can be overwhelming, between concerns over the accuracy of job applications and résumés, and the challenges of looking behind those applicant-provided details to get a full picture of a candidate. Some fields will require a variety of background checks and screenings because they involve higher risk, are more sensitive, or involve access to restricted information. In reality, screenings for all potential hires can result in savings of time and resources, and can result in better-fit employees for your organization. Here are just a few of the reasons to screen potential hires.

Criminal records, drug use, unsafe driving records, and other behaviors can indicate possible risks for your employees, business partners, and clients. 

Especially if your business involves workers entering customer's homes, transporting people, or direct care, background screenings can reduce your liability for negligent hiring and other claims.

Naturally, screenings allow you to easily verify the details an applicant has provided, including eligibility to work, work history, military service, academic records, listed credentials, validity of references, and others.

Filtering out poor or undesirable matches with screening can save you substantial time by reducing the volume of appropriate candidates to review. It can also help prevent rehiring and retraining if performance problems come to light that would have been caught through screening.

Screenings can identify behaviors and activities that may not align with your hiring preferences, including histories of fraud, malpractice, financial problems, drug use, other sanctioned activities.