HR Glossary

Background Screening / Pre-employment Screening

Background screening refers to the process of investigating the backgrounds of potential employees and is one of the most informative ways to collect the data quickly and efficiently in order to help companies make informed decisions regarding prospective job applicants.

what is background or pre-employment screening

Background/Pre-employment screening definition

Background screening refers to the process of investigating the backgrounds of potential employees and is one of the most informative ways to collect the data quickly and efficiently in order to help companies make informed decisions regarding prospective job applicants.

It’s becoming an important step throughout recruiting and hiring processes as it verifies the accuracy of a potenital employee’s claims and reduces the number of applicants who might not be a good fit.

Why should you use background screening

Companies should use background screening since it’s much more complicated to terminate an employee than it is to stop the hiring process. It’s the quickest and safest way to make sure they are hiring reliable, qualified employees.

Background screening can involve criminal record checks, credit checks, reference checks, driving records, education and certification checks, corporate affiliations, drug screening and testing, skills assessment and behavioral assessments.

With background screening you can drastically diminish the number of workplace concerns such as employee theft, sexual harassment, workplace violence, financial frauds or on-the-job substance abuse.

See TalentLyft in action

Applicant Tracking, Recruitment Marketing, Sourcing and Talent CRM software are powerful alone, but unstoppable when used together!


Related content

  • Contract recruiters are recruiters who work on a contract basis as a consultant to a company.Contract recruiters definition Contract recruiters are recruiters who work on a...

  • Data breach is an incident where sensitive, protected or confidential data has been taken from a system by an individual unauthorized to do so, without the...

  • Downsizing, sometimes referred to as layoff, is the process of company's permanent reducing of workforce by terminating the employment of employees.Downsizing definitionDownsizing, sometimes referred to as...

Explore more topics

  • Coronavirus (Covid-19)

    Discover how to navigate and survive the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis by turning challenges into opportunities. Learn strategies for adapting your workforce, supporting remote work, maintaining employee engagement, and ensuring business continuity. Stay resilient and transform obstacles into growth during this unprecedented time.

  • Culture Fit

    Ensure culture fit in your hiring process with strategies that align candidates’ values and behaviors with your company’s culture. Learn how to assess cultural compatibility during interviews, foster a positive workplace environment, and build a team that not only excels in skills but thrives within your organization's unique culture.

  • Mobile Recruitment

    If you think job seekers look for jobs in the newspaper or on their desktop computers, think again. IT's 2023. and people use their phones for everything, including job searching. Learn how to meet them there and adjust your recruitment process to turn mobile recruitment into your biggest advantage.

  • Sourcing Candidates

    Master the art of sourcing candidates with strategies that help you find and attract top talent. Learn how to leverage social media, job boards, networking, and recruitment tools to expand your talent pool. Improve your sourcing techniques to identify qualified candidates faster and build a strong, diverse pipeline for your hiring needs.

  • Recruitment Content

    Elevate your hiring efforts with compelling recruitment content. Learn how to create engaging job descriptions, employer branding materials, and targeted social media posts that attract top talent. Effective content helps showcase your company culture, values, and opportunities, making you stand out in the competitive recruitment landscape.

  • HR Software

    Let HR technology make your work life easier! Streamline your HR processes, from payroll and benefits to talent management and recruitment, with powerful HR software. Save time, reduce manual tasks, and focus on strategic initiatives by working smarter, not harder.

Simple and affordable recruitment software