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Employment Verification – Why It’s Important

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One of the questions which is found most on job application forms is about your employment history. Recruiters are interested in not only what you’ve been doing and where, but also in any gaps between your jobs. Many applicants tie themselves in knots trying to remember whether they started a new job in September or October, and their exact job titles. These minor details are less important, and employers are aware that a month or two discrepancy several years ago is not going to mean you have something to hide. But some candidates do try to hide something in their employment history. This could be anything from being sacked and having a period of unemployment before finding another position or being in prison rather than working at all. Employment history is one of the easier things to check, so it’s no surprise that employers are taking steps to check the backgrounds of many new workers, especially those recruited into management positions.

Advice for Candidates

If you are applying for a job, the key advice is always to be as honest as you can be about your employment history. It can be tempting to give yourself a bit more responsibility or claim that you were in a job a few months longer than you were to avoid the need to explain a gap. The problem with this is that if the fibs are detected, employers might start to question your honesty and in a competitive market with many other candidates in the running for the same job. If you have been working in the UK and paid tax through PAYE, logging into the tax system through the Government Gateway portal should have the information which the tax office holds about your employment history.

What Can Employers Check?

There is a common misconception that employers are not allowed to give a “bad” reference, but this is not strictly speaking true. Employers who give an opinion-led reference rather than sticking to the facts could be challenged in court if it could be proved that a poor reference led to an offer being withdrawn. However, if they have the paperwork to say that you were sacked for gross misconduct, they may choose to disclose that on a reference. Many employers choose to err on the side of caution and simply state the dates between which you were employed, and your job title.

How Far Back Do They Check?

In some sectors, security vetting requires a complete 5-year job history from applicants. In other sectors, it is standard to ask for a 3-to-5-year employment history, including an explanation of any gaps in your employment during that time. You may be asked to provide proof that you were studying, or travelling if this is what accounts for the gaps in education. It’s also up to the applicant whether they choose to disclose their previous salaries, as this information is typically not shared on a reference for reasons of confidentiality – companies don’t want their competitors to know what their workers earn.

LinkedIn Announces Profile Verification

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Since Elon Musk bought Twitter, there have been many rumours about the future of the “verified” mark on the social media platform. Previously, the blue tick mark on Twitter and other social media platforms was awarded to public figures, who had been accredited by their employer. Musk announced that he intended to change this model, instead awarding the verified status to anyone who paid the monthly subscription fee. Perhaps the largest social media site used by the business community is LinkedIn, and a recent announcement from the platform indicates that they intend to follow a very different path to Twitter.

Verify Your Identity at LinkedIn

The idea behind LinkedIn is to make connections with other people working in your industry or company, whether you know them personally or not. Many employers use LinkedIn to find out about people who have applied for jobs with them, or even recruit new workers through the social media site. Until now, there has been no verification of identities on LinkedIn, meaning that anyone can claim to work for whatever company they choose. LinkedIn has recently unveiled a new way of verifying employers, using a company email. 50 million LinkedIn users across the world will be able to confirm their employer by asking the social media site to send a verification code to their work email address. This is an easy way of confirming that a LinkedIn member works for a specific organisation, even though it may not confirm what position they hold within that company.

Selfie Verification

LinkedIn has also announced that it is working with another company which is an expert in biometric verification. This is similar to identity verification for job applications, and involves specialised software looking at the biometric features on a standard identity document such as a passport, with a selfie which you take with a web cam, or upload as a photograph. This is very similar to the facial recognition technology which smartphones use to open your phone or allow you to make payments. Comparing facial features to a passport should give confirmation that the person operating the LinkedIn account has access to the passport, but these checks cannot replace meeting someone face to face, or at least via video conferencing.

Recruitment Through LinkedIn

Job adverts are increasingly posted online, and users of LinkedIn can browse and apply for vacancies through the website. From an employer’s point of view, the new LinkedIn verified system should give a bit of reassurance that people are who they say they are. But any verification process can only go so far and should never be the only method which an organisation uses to check out the people applying for positions. All a LinkedIn verified mark can tell you is that the identity of the person is correct, and they currently work for the stated employer. Employers might still have to do work to check academic qualifications, work experience and do social media screening or credit checks. LinkedIn verification is a starting point, nothing more.

Employers Missing Out on Best Candidates over Admin Delays

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A recent survey from a recruitment company indicated that as many as 83% of employers are missing out on top talent due to delays in background screening. The best candidates become frustrated with delays in waiting for checks to be completed and go elsewhere. At a time where companies in many sectors of the market are finding it difficult to fill all vacancies, any hold-ups in the checking process can put companies at risk.

Right to Work Checks

Levels of background screening will depend usually on the level of responsibility the job entails. Generally, a company will want to do more detailed screening and checking on someone who is being hired into a senior management position than someone much more junior. One of the non-negotiable checks however are the Right to Work checks, where an employer must verify that the people being employed to work in the UK are in the country legally and have the legal right to take up paid employment. There is a range of ways of doing this, and the best method will depend on the company. A small company might just ask new employees to bring their passports with them to an interview. Larger employers typically use a digital portal or third-party partner to allow applicants to verify their identity digitally.

Delays in DBS Checks

Disclosure and Barring Service checks – or their equivalent in Scotland and Northern Ireland – are legally required for many positions, especially in healthcare or education. In many cases, applicants will not be able to start work until their DBS certificate arrives in the post, or in cases where they start work, their duties may be restricted. Delays in processing DBS checks is nothing new, and the length of time for processing varies not only depending on the time of year, but also depending on where you live. Employers who request a large number of DBS checks should be aware of roughly how long it will take to complete, but you can maximise your chances by taking care over completing the form and getting someone else to proofread it before hitting the submit button online.

Other Screening Checks

Most companies will at the very least chase references for people applying to work with them. When a large volume of applicants all need verifying at the same time, this can take quite some time if handled in-house. Many organisations are also conducting more detailed checks, such as verifying academic qualifications with universities or schools, or looking through someone’s social media feed. These checks are not a legal requirement, so if a company is keen to get someone into position quickly, they may choose to skip some of these stages. Credit checking is also required for many roles in financial services, and online credit scoring and referencing sites make this a quick job. It also means that you as a candidate can also log in to the credit checking site and see the same information a prospective employer will be judging on.

Running a Background Check on Yourself

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Congratulations! You made it through the long interview process, and you have received a job offer in the post. But at the bottom of the letter, after the important stuff about salary and holiday entitlement, is a single sentence about the offer being subject to background screening. This is becoming increasingly common in the UK and background screening refers to the checks and searches which an employer might do before taking on a member of staff. Some employers may conduct the checks themselves, others may ask a specialist company to do it for them. Background checking isn’t necessarily something to be frightened of, and many of the checks you can run yourself to see what might come up on a screening check.

Inconsistencies and Discrepancies

Perhaps the most common check is a close inspection of both your application form and CV. This is often done pre-interview, but screening companies may be able to pick up issues which have been missed. Screening companies, or in-house HR departments will make sure that the information you have given on your application form is the same as that on a CV and might compare that with other public profiles on sites like LinkedIn or Facebook. Finding that someone has given three different dates for when they attended university, alarm bells might be ringing. Make sure that you are presenting a consistent back story about education and employment and can explain any gaps in your education or employment history.

Credit Checking

If you are applying for a job in financial services, then you might be asked to consent to a credit check too. Credit checks look at your basic financial situation and aim to weed out people whose serious financial difficulties mean they could be tempted to commit fraud or be vulnerable to blackmail or pressure. Your own financial information is yours, and you can look at the same information as an employer can, so it is worth doing this to make sure there are no nasty surprises in store. It’s surprising how many credit records contain basic errors, so contact one of the major credit referencing agencies to request your file and make sure there are no accounts you don’t recognise or defaults in your name. There is lots of information online about steps which you can take to improve your credit score.

Social Media Screening

One of the easiest things to do for an employer and the applicant is a social media screening. This involves looking at your Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn accounts to make sure that you aren’t posting or sharing content which calls your character into question. It’s very easy to do this screening yourself, by logging into the site and seeing how your profile appears to someone else. Sharing pictures of your cat or children isn’t going to raise red flags, but following extreme political content or several critical posts of a former employer might. Delete any posts you don’t wish to be seen or tighten your privacy settings so that very little is visible to people you don’t know personally.

Why a Credit Report is Essential for a Job Interview

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How interviews are conducted has ensured businesses and organisations can interview people in any location, regardless of how remote they are. However, there is more to assessing whether a candidate is a good fit for a role, and a pre-employment credit check is essential for making an informed decision.

There may be several checks that need to be carried out in addition to a credit check, depending on the nature of the roles. However, a credit report is essential for a job interview for the following reasons.

Assess the Identity of the Candidate

Although surprising, employment fraud can cost businesses a lot of money. As such, ensuring a person is who they say they are is of the utmost importance. A background check can consist of several processes, but a credit check ensures employers can carry out a thorough background check.

Even though a credit check is carried out online, the complexity of the methods used for document verification means even the most sophisticated of fraudulent documents are detected.

Check Whether a Person is a Good Fit for a Role

Being responsible with money is not always a prerequisite for a job. Still, it can help businesses decide whether a person is a good fit, especially if the role involves management or finance. Of course, poor credit history doesn’t necessarily mean a candidate is nefarious, but it does allow companies to make an informed decision when filling a position.

What Is Needed to Carry Out a Credit Check?

Companies and organisations can only carry out a credit check after permission has been given, so this needs to be sought in the first instance. To carry out a credit check, a full name and address will be required, as well as any addresses used in the past.

In some instances, document verification for a credit check will be needed. This can occur if recent details have changed, or a company has difficulty locating the person’s details.

Fraudulent documents are becoming more sophisticated, but so is the software used to counteract fake paperwork. Using an external agency for document verification gives companies and organisations carrying out credit checks the ability to ensure all documentation forward to support an application is genuine.

How Long Does a Credit Check Take to Complete?

Regardless of why a credit check is carried out, it is typically completed relatively quickly. However, there can be instances when it can take as long as ten days. Document verification ensures that background checks can be done as soon as possible while giving companies confidence that assessments are completed thoroughly.

If you’re currently considering hiring a new person or carrying out a complete recruitment drive, then a credit check can make all the difference regarding a successful hire. Furthermore, document verification helps ensure that credit checks aren’t delayed when waiting to offer a person a position.

How Businesses Can Benefit from Liveness Checks

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Many interactions with a business will require some form of authentication. For example, those hiring new employees must carry out a series of background checks depending on the role. Similarly, those offering products or services on credit will need to carry out a credit check to ensure that payments will not be an issue in the future.

Some form of document verification will often be in place when carrying out background checks, ensuring that the paperwork is genuine. Still, it is also essential to ensure the paperwork is being forwarded by the right person, which is where liveness checks can benefit a business.

Liveness checks fall into two categories, passive and active. A passive liveness check will use the device to identify the person without them carrying out any requests but will be sophisticated enough to highlight instances when spoofing is attempted.

An active liveness check asks people submitting paperwork or documents online to carry out actions when verifying their identity. This could include smiling at the camera or carrying out a series of movements so the software can establish the person is real.

The type of liveness check used can depend on the nature of the business but instilling another level of security regarding identity checks can yield several benefits for a business.

A Liveness Check Can Be Enough to Deter Fraudsters

There was once a time when fraudulent documents could be created quickly and used to fool businesses into handing over products or services because of how legitimate the paperwork looked. However, advanced technology means fraudsters cannot manipulate liveness checks, so their presence is often used to deter potential fraudsters and those with sinister intentions.

Keep Costs Low for Customers

Many will talk about shoplifting costing businesses a lot of money; the same is true online. If someone obtains goods from a company via nefarious means, this often means increasing the price to cover the loss, which can deter other customers.

Having a high level of security, like liveness checks in place, is less costly than the outcome of fraud and ensures costs are kept low for customers.

Be Proactive Regarding Anti-Money Laundering

Money laundering is a crime that can affect businesses and customers, and both can be unaware before it is too late. For money laundering to succeed, a weak level of security is all that is needed. As such, liveness checks should be used as an additional security measure, especially when people want to invest in a business.

Although a business can never predict the future, it can be proactive when safeguarding itself and its customers. Liveness checks are ideal for deterring those planning to use a company or organisation to launder money gained from criminal activities.

If you’re concerned about your current screening practices, why not outsource liveness checks and background screening to a professional third-party agency? In addition to giving a business confidence that liveness checks are being carried out correctly, it also ensures they are completed as soon as possible.

Why Companies Can Benefit from Liveness Checks

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Every business wants to avoid fraud, but the complex methods used by fraudsters can sometimes make this difficult. Fortunately, there are some steps that can be taken to ensure it can minimise the risk associated with fraud.

Liveness checks embrace technology and allow businesses and organisations to verify the identity of someone using document verification and biometrics. Given that most people have access to a smartphone and carry out a majority of their tasks using the device, it makes sense that companies can benefit from liveness checks.

Customers Can Open Finance Accounts Easily

In the past, checking the authenticity of a person could take several weeks and be costly in some instances.

Fortunately, this is no longer the case, as liveness checks ensure customers can open accounts easily and quickly. Not only does this improve the customer base for a business, but it also ensures those signing up for an account are not becoming frustrated when waiting long periods for a response.

Job Applications Can Be Streamlined

The hiring process consists of several checks, and although there are elements that need to be carried out manually, companies can streamline basic applications with liveness checks. As well as ensuring job applicants can be given feedback regarding their application sooner, liveness checks can deter those wanting to make a fraudulent application.

The streamlined process that liveness checks allow ensures businesses can invest time where needed in the recruitment process and enables the right talent to be sourced easily.

A Company Can Perform Continuous Customer Checks

It is not only the application process that can be streamlined via the use of liveness checks, but it can also perform continuous monitoring to ensure customers’ accounts are compromised. If a person loses their smartphone and there is little security in place, then accounts may be breached easily.

However, ensuring liveness checks are part of the logging-in process ensures that customers are always protected, even when they can’t find their device.

Businesses Can Avoid Fraud and Money Laundering

Fraud comes in several guises, and a business must do all it can to safeguard itself from nefarious online activity. Fraudsters have made several attempts in the past to open accounts in other people’s names to acquire funds or make investments in a company using money from illegitimate sources.

Not only can liveness checks help protect its business and customers. In many instances, fraud can mean businesses have to increase the price of their products and services to cover their loss. Introducing liveness checks helps deter fraud and provides an additional layer of security between a business and potential customers.

How a Third-Party Agency Can Help Regarding Liveness Checks

Businesses and organisations are keen to avoid fraud and other criminality whenever possible, so they will require prompt service when instilling liveness checks. Online document verification can be one of the most important elements of liveness checks, and using a professional third-party agency ensures they are completed correctly and quickly.

Furthermore, the time saved when outsourcing liveness checks means a business can focus on expansion ratchet than attempting to verify several documents using dated methods.

What Can Employers See on a Credit Report?

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When applying for jobs, it’s not uncommon for companies to carry out a credit search as part of their pre-employment checks. Although many people assume that the search is the same as the one used for credit applications, this isn’t the case.

The following is an overview of what employers can see on a credit report, and how they can influence hiring decisions.

What Are Pre-Employment Checks?

As the term implies, pre-employment checks are screenings carried out before a job offer is made. As well as consisting of credit checks, pre-employment checks can also include DBS Disclosures and Driving License Checks.

When hiring new employees, companies will often include the checks needed in the job description. Although a person can refuse a credit check, the businesses can end the hiring process, as it will be unable to verify whether a person is a threat to the company or the right fit for a role.

What Information is Shown on a Pre-Employment Check?

The information obtained regarding a pre-employment check can depend on the methods of background screening used.

Credit checks for pre-employment screening are referred to as ‘soft searches’ and won’t impact your credit file. Although a company wll be unable to see a person’s credit score, they will be able to ascertain current credit, plus any defaults or CCJs.

Which Credit Reference Agency is Used for Pre-Employment Check?

There can be some confusion regarding credit searches due to there being three reporting agencies. Companies may use Experian, Equifax or TransUnion singularly or all together. Although the details shown can vary, a realistic overview of a person’s credit history can be obtained when using one of the official agencies.

Those who are unsure of what details are shown on their credit report can request a copy from each agency. In addition to allowing a person to proactively monitor their credit history, it can also ensure that all the information recorded is correct and up to date.

Can a Company Legally Refuse a Job Role Based on Credit History?

There can be unavoidable circumstances in life and being judged on credit history can seem unfair. However, a business has a responsibility to ensure that both its customers and employees are protected, so can refuse a job role if it feels it could pose a threat to the business.

However, this doesn’t mean that those with poor credit will be refused a job. Although a person may have had credit problems in the past, maintaining payments moving forward shows that they have taken responsibility, which can be considered a positive trait.

Companies will frown upon information that shows the person to be irresponsible with funds or could be part of something more nefarious involving identity fraud.

Applying for a job can be overwhelming for some, especially regarding background screening. However, monitoring credit reports and being honest with employers means a business can obtain more context and make an informed decision when hiring.

Avoiding the Dangers of Fraudulent Documentation

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The advancement of the Internet has led to several sophisticated methods of falsifying documentation. Although this may have been successful for criminals during the early days of the Internet, methods have been developed that help businesses and organisations avoid the danger of false documentation.

What Types of Fraudulent Documentation Are There?

To start contending with falsified paperwork, businesses and organizations must know about the different types of document fraud. The following is an overview of the most common.

Image Fraud

Image fraud typically occurs when those being asked for identification use an image instead of the document itself. Most alterations are carried out using image manipulation software, meaning the images can look real to the naked eye.

Illegitimate Documents

Illegitimate documents are created to look like the real thing but will be created similarly to falsified images. There can be some differences that are noticeable, such as missing holograms, but this won’t always be the case.

Modified Documents

Modified documents start life as official paperwork but will have details amended, thus making them illegitimate as with illegitimate documents, there can be signs of tampering, but they won’t always be evident.

Modified documents can be more difficult to spot as they contain official elements, but there are steps that can be taken to ensure that paper work is official.

What Are the Risks of Fraudulent Documentation?

Fraudulent documentation can be used for a series of nefarious reasons, many of which will negatively affect a business. Those using falsified paperwork to apply for a loan will often use the funds without ever making a repayment.

Similarly, businesses offering investment opportunities could be subjected to money laundering. As such, companies and organisations will be keen to instill a reliable form of document verification to avoid the risks.

Given that document fraud costs businesses and organisations approximately £3 million per year, businesses will also want some additional peace of mind that every step is being taken when verifying documents. This is why many people enlist the expertise of an external agency.

Why Use an External Agency for Document Verification?

Even the most skilled individuals can miss small details when checking documents, especially when contending with large volumes of paperwork. Fortunately, there are modern methods of checking documents that can be completed quickly.

Carrying out document checks internally can take several hours and can still leave doubt whether a document is official.

Outsourcing the task to a professional document verification company allows businesses to establish paperwork is genuine within a quick time frame. Furthermore, verification certificates can be viewed online the same day they are requested.

What Does a Credit Report Show?

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A credit report summarises a person’s credit commitments and any CCJs or defaulted payments. Credit scores are updated every 45 days approximately, but in most instances, a credit report will give lenders and employers a realistic overview of a person’s financial history.

There are three credit reference agencies, also called CRAs, so the information listed on each can vary. The three main reporting agencies are Equifax, Experience, and TransUnion, and each can show varying information, including the following.

Bankruptcies

Bankruptcies are created when a person cannot pay their debts. Companies or individuals can use Chapter 7 bankruptcies. An individual can only use Chapter 12 bankruptcy. Bankruptcies will continue to show on a credit report for approximately six years after the order is made.

Accounts Sent to Collections

If a business has tried to recoup payment but has been unsuccessful, the company will send its account to a collections department. Although common for credit cards and loans, collection accounts can apply to rent payments, mobile phones, and satellite television.

Soft and Hard Credit Check Enquiries

As companies can use credit checks for identity checks, two types of enquiries are carried out. A soft credit check is often used for job applications or pre-approved credit offers. These types of checks do not affect a person’s credit score.

However, those applying for credit will incur a hard credit check, which stays on a person’s account for two years. These types of credit searches can impact a credit score, so it is essential permission has been given beforehand.

Is There Information Not Shown on a Credit Report?

Although a credit report shows financial details, the information only relates to debt. As such, only credit cards, loans, and mortgages will show on a credit search. Any information regarding savings and current accounts will not be displayed, as this isn’t debt.

A credit report will also dismiss any information irrelevant to credit applications, such as marital status, race, disabilities, and religion.

Ensuring a Credit Report is Carried Out Correctly

Those wanting to check their credit file can make a request to the relevant agencies. You may need some form of identification if you have difficulty locating your credit file. Still, each agency will inform you of the necessary next steps for obtaining your score.

A business carrying out a credit check must obtain the person’s permission and personal details. In addition to a credit search, companies may conduct other forms of background screening, including DBS Checks.

A company must also ensure that any supporting documentation given is legitimate so it will take advantage of online document verification.

Carrying out a credit check for the first time can be overwhelming, but there is plenty of support for businesses that need to carry out credit checks continuously, ensuring there is little disruption regarding day-to-day operations.