Onrec: Lost in Translation – Navigating the Complexities of Pre-Employment Screening in Today’s Workforce

Originally posted on Onrec, published by Stuart Gentle and written by Tim Stokes, Business Development Director & Channel Partner Lead at Matrix Security Watchdog.

In today’s fast-paced hiring environment, ensuring that the recruitment process doesn’t get lost in translation is critical—especially when it comes to pre-employment screening.

Over the years, I’ve seen how background checks often take a backseat in the recruitment process, typically happening after an offer has been made. Sometimes, they’re even postponed until the candidate is already in the role, introducing unnecessary risks.

Imagine this: multiple candidates are screened for the same job, not because we want to be thorough, but as a time-saving measure in case someone drops out. It sounds efficient, right? But what does this mean for the candidate experience? Not to mention the cost implications. Worse yet, there are instances where candidates start working before their background checks are complete. The risk here is significant, and it’s something that business leaders should seriously consider.

But the challenge doesn’t end there. Let’s zoom out and examine the process at a higher level. How do we differentiate screening programs for permanent staff versus contingent or temporary workers? Often, these programs are managed through MSPs (Managed Service Providers), RPOs (Recruitment Process Outsourcing), or neutral vendors, adding layers of complexity. Consistency in screening standards becomes questionable, and we’re often asked to mirror a permanent screening program for a staffing business or RPO managing the contingent side. This apples-to-apples comparison can be complex, leading to misalignment in programs.

Read the full article HERE.

In the ever evolving world of hiring and screening, embracing partnerships through an effective ecosystem is crucial. A well-integrated partner ecosystem streamlines the process by bringing together various services and technologies. It provides improved candidate experiences, scalability, better compliance, and global reach. But it’s essential that companies maintain strong oversight and communication with their partners to ensure that nothing gets lost in translation.

Originally posted on Onrec, published by Stuart Gentle and written by Tim Stokes, Business Development Director & Channel Partner Lead at Matrix Security Watchdog.