
12.03.2016 : News
Reinforcing your hiring process
Over time, social, technological and economic forces have not only led to increased workforce mobility across the globe, but also to the advent of fake references, diploma mills and other misdeeds. There has been an increasing need for employers to screen a candidate’s background and a growing demand for new types of background check services.
In our previous post, we provided tips to identify the best fit during the interview process. Knowing that recruitment is one of the regular tasks of both franchisors and franchisees, we will now review available tools that will help them make sure they are hiring the right candidates and protecting their corporate image.
Knowing candidates’ past on-the-job behaviours
Surveys reveal that the cost of turnover represents 35% or more of the annual salary for most positions. As employers, we know how challenging it can be to match people to jobs as each one requires unique abilities, traits and skill sets.
It is no secret that past performance is one of the greatest indicators of future conduct. Employers rely on reference checks to obtain a perspective of candidates’ past “on-the-job” behaviours. These checks have been a standard in Canada for over 100 years and nowadays, most companies continue to systematically conduct at least two references prior to hiring. Reference checks are also useful to explore areas of concern that occurred during the interview or to ensure that there have not been any embellishments from the candidate.
An important point to bear in mind is that references should be obtained in an unbiased way and focus on facts. The final report should provide an overview of a candidate’s position, job performance, dominant characteristics, areas for improvement, leadership and communication abilities.
Cross verifying past employment information
Another common requirement from employers is to make sure that a candidate’s working experience as outlined on their CV has not been overstated. Compared to the reference check, the employment verification should be conducted with the company’s HR department to obtain accurate information from employee records.
The employment verification report should confirm specific information such as start and end dates, positions held, type of work performed, reason for leaving and the candidate’s eligibility for re-hire.
Verifying past education information
An internal survey conducted by Mintz Global Screening revealed that 8% of candidates have an education discrepancy that is, they provided education credentials they either did not complete or… flat out, never actually obtained! An education verification will quickly validate the authenticity of a candidate’s diploma as well as the legitimacy of the institution that issued it.
Knowing whether your prospect has a clean record
Statistics show that crime rate in Canada dropped from 2006 to 2011 and we all hope it will maintain this trend. The criminal record check is the most prevalent screening done in Canada and a prerequisite for a number of high-security employment areas. Mintz Global Screening’s internal survey showed that 9% of screened candidates actually had a criminal record.
Knowing your candidate’s financial accountability
For a job involving cash handling, asset management and dealing with other confidential financial information, an employer would want to hire a candidate who is both responsible and has a proven financial track record.
A credit check, which involves inquiring into an applicant’s financial background, is a business necessity when it comes to sensitive job positions. It provides detailed reports of credit ratings, loans and collections outstanding as well as a verification of the individual’s identity.
These services represent the most frequently sought-for solutions in a background check. In today’s marketplace, a full background report consists of two references, education and professional accreditation, 5-years employment verification and a criminal record check.
An important final point is third party objectivity. This means that for a screening process to be fully compliant, responsible and free of any ethical or human rights issues, it is a best practice to always use a third-party company to do your background check. This way the hiring manager will receive a report that is unbiased, obtained in good faith, focused on factual information and conducted in a manner equitable to all candidates.
Several other background check services exist and we shall look into them in our next post. Stay tuned!

05.02.2024 : News
Revealing beyond the resume: Introducing Open Source Media Search
In today’s interconnected world, an individual’s contributions extend far beyond the confines of their workspace. What they express, engage in, and how others perceive them can significantly influence a company’s reputation. At Mintz Global Screening, we understand the importance of gaining a holistic understanding of potential employees beyond the transcending facts and figures presented on their resumes. We are thrilled to introduce our latest innovative service: Open Source Media…

29.03.2022 : News
What happens when a candidate lies on their resume?
As a result of the greater accessibility of higher education, and the consequent increase in the number of people obtaining higher degrees than a few years ago, the competitiveness for top jobs has exploded. It is therefore no surprise that in order to increase their chances of being hired, more and more unscrupulous people decide to embellish or simply lie about their qualifications, experience or skills when applying for such…

06.12.2021 : News
Distribution of fake safety certificates puts public at risk
In Alberta, the RCMP has Uncovered a Fraud Involving the Distribution of Thousands of Counterfeit Safety Certificates On November 4th, the RCMP has uncovered a large-scale fraud involving the distribution and selling of thousands of counterfeit safety certificates across the western provinces of the country. The operation mostly involves first-aid and hydrogen sulphide awareness trainings as well as other safety courses. The two major organizations affected by the…