Introduction

Most businesses put much effort in ensuring that they portray high standards. As a result of this, when the need rises to make a hire, they move swiftly to ensure that they retain their standard. The irony of this is that all employees and applicants add to business and security risk and some of these applicants can consequently pose a problem to your business thereby causing those high standards to fall. One effective way to protect your business from employee potential issues is carrying out a background check on your applicants and employees.

What Is a Background Check?

A background check is a scrutiny of an applicant or employee's history based on specifications determined by their current or prospective employer. A background check usually covers the following:

  • Academic Qualification Verification
  • Previous Employment Verification
  • Guarantors/Referees Verification
  • Address Verification
  • Permit to Work and Visa Verification
  • NYSC Certificate Verification
  • Criminal Record Verification
  • Driver's License Verification

What Can a Background Check Reveal?

  • Forged Certificates
  • Doctored Grades
  • Inexistent Address
  • Unreliable Guarantors/Referees
  • Unavailable Claimed Work History
  • Integrity Issues

A lot of businesses in Nigeria have fallen victim of scam and deceptive employees. Only these businesses know in its entirety, the effect such scam and deception had on their business and they would do anything to ensure that such occurrence doesn't repeat itself. Consequently, it remains the utmost responsibility of every company to know for a truth who they indeed have on board. This will curtail potential employment risks and also aid the company in maintaining a good reputation.

Originally published October 31, 2018

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.