The Great Resignation continues, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting a record-breaking 4.5 million Americans quit in November 2021 alone. Although employers are feeling pressure to hire quickly, we caution that background screening is still crucial.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuring societal changes, countless people nationwide reevaluated their relationship with work. Some left their jobs for perceived better opportunities, while others exited the labor market to care for their families or pursue further education. The end result is that many employers have found themselves short-staffed and struggling to fill openings with qualified candidates. We warn against cutting corners during the hiring process.
Pre-employment background checks remain a necessary tool for hiring with confidence. While it can be tempting to fill a position quickly when someone promising applies, hiring the wrong person would be more detrimental than the cost of the screening process. As most hiring managers have experienced, a person can interview well but could be concealing things on paper that make them a poor fit for the position.
With so many people resigning, it is more important than ever to hire people with the right qualifications who are committed to remaining with the company for a long time. Taking the time to do a thorough background check enables hiring managers to verify candidates’ backgrounds and experience. Furthermore, screening can reveal red flags, such as a history of job-hopping or past criminal activity. Plus, working with a good screening partner will ensure that background checks do not unduly slow down the hiring process.