There are very good reasons for pre employment screening. Most people tell white lies pretty regularly, so it is reasonable to assume that applicants for employment positions will tell lies, or at least find it to be acceptable to jazz up their resumes with a little exaggeration. This is why more and more employers are using the services of pre employment screening agencies or checking into the backgrounds of their prospective employees. Two thirds of the British workforce believes that it is acceptable to lie in order to get a job, according to a recent survey by an Internet recruitment site, so there is clearly a need for this type of service.

Job seekers won't be able to lie their way into jobs forever, though, as they are increasingly facing a range of assessment tools such as psychometric profiling and ability tests. Starting in the fall of 2008, all those who wish to be employed with children and vulnerable adults will have to join the newly formed Vetting & Barring Scheme. From their point of entry, they will be subject to pre employment screening, and employers will be made aware of matters that might affect their suitability to work with these groups of people. Existing employees working within these fields will also have to enter into the scheme.

This is just one of the ways the British government ensures that people who work with vulnerable individuals are screened and subject to inspection to check their appropriateness for the work. More and more employers are turning to pre employment screening and background checking. These investigations provide the comfort of knowing that an applicant is who they say they are, can lawfully work in the United Kingdom, and do not present a risk to themselves, their work colleagues and the company's clients. Pre employment screening, when carried out thoroughly, can reveal information that an applicant deliberately or mistakenly leaves out, and brings that information to the attention of the prospective employer. Quality pre employment screening should check the authenticity and integrity of identity documents, claimed qualifications and employment and educational history.

Back To Articles...