How to conduct Background Checks

Reference checking is when a potential employer reaches out to a current or former employer to confirm things like:

• The dates that a candidate worked there
• The role they held
• Their performance
• Their reason for leaving

Essentially, a reference check lets you verify that a candidate really did hold the job roles they list on their CV.

You should run a background check (sometimes shortened to BG check) on your candidate towards the end of the hiring process. This may be after you’ve extended a conditional offer (provided they pass them all, including a criminal record check) and the candidate accepts, so you know you’re not spending time or resources on a hire that isn’t committed.

You must get consent from any applicant you run a background check on, so it can be good to be transparent about it from day one. You should also work with any potential hire to navigate asking their current employer for references, as this can cause friction. Wait for their consent to contact their current job so they can give notice first.

The most common types of background checks include:

Qualifications

This involves contacting the institutions the candidate cited on their CV and confirming that they completed their course of study. In some cases, you may also need to see an academic transcript which may only be given directly to the candidate themselves (another reason why being open and transparent about this stage is key).

Credit scores

These checks verify that a candidate isn’t in debt. Again, candidate consent must be acquired before carrying out this check. Australia’s main credit reporting bodies are Equifax, Experian, and Billion. As each one of these may hold different information about a candidate, it’s recommended that you contact all three for a comprehensive credit check.

Social media activity

Depending on if your candidate will be expected to publicly represent the company, you may need to check their current social media presence. Once again, you should let any applicant know that a social media check is part of the process. The goal of these checks is to make sure that an individual aligns with the company’s values and isn’t liable to damage its reputation. You should be on the lookout for things like inappropriate behaviour, discrimination, or online aggression. It also allows you to understand the individual’s interests and flag anything that may seem problematic.

References and employment history

References and employment checks let you verify that a candidate worked where they said they did. They also let you check their reasons for leaving i.e. If they were let go, and let you get some insight into how they performed in the role, which can help you decide on their suitability for your current vacancy.

Civil litigation

This check lets you know if your candidate has any involvement in cases of civil litigation.

Criminal history records check

To verify a candidate’s criminal history records, you’ll need to run a police record check or a National Criminal Check, resulting in a National Police Certificate (NPC). These checks will verify things like the candidate’s name and date of birth, and any convictions or pending charges. They’ll also highlight if they have ever been charged with fraud or drug use. Sometimes you may need to run a wider national criminal check with the Australian Federal Police which widens the search to include all commonwealth records.

Can you get a National Police Check at a local police station?

For businesses running a police record check, there are online business portals available which make it quick and easy to complete a criminal history record check without needing to physically visit any police location.

Australian businesses carrying out BG checks must adhere to the law, this includes:

- Always obtaining written consent from a candidate

- Follow laws on data protection

- Follow laws to prevent discrimination, for example, against those with spent criminal convictions

Often, businesses will hire a third party to complete a check, to make sure all of the above are being adhered to, while also saving on time and cost.

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