NEW DELHI : Lying in your CV to get a dream job could be futile as Indian companies have one of the world’s most consistent background screening processes, according to a report. To make sure that the right candidate fills up the vacant position, companies not only check past work record from your previous employers but also conducts education verification and identity check.
According to HireRight, a global background screening company, the most common checks in 2019 included employment checks (88%), education verification (83%) and identity checks (59%). Criminal checks is at the fourth place in India but globally, companies prioritise criminal (88%) and identity checks (63%) above all else, the ‘2019 India Employment Screening Benchmark Report’ said.
The survey, based on interviews from more than 400 HR professionals from India, found that education and identity checks are being conducted more rigorously than other background checks.
Social media checks have decreased by 52%, credit history check down by 36% and professional licence checks by 9%. “It is worrying to note that all other forms of checks remained either stagnant, or saw a decline – potentially exposing organisations to significant risks,” the report said.
How long does screening take
Usually, an employment screening check takes around two weeks to complete, but it depends heavily on the nature and scope of the background check requested.
For example, the process to verify educational qualifications involves submitting documentation to the school for validation – this alone can take several days to be reviewed. Confirming details of previous employment can sometimes involve a physical visit to confirm the registered address, which again can be time-consuming.
The survey found that half of Indian companies have no plans to introduce new screenings in the coming months.
Why do companies screen candidates
The survey found that among all other countries in the world, about 80% of Indian companies conduct checks on all job candidates, making India one of the most consistent screening nations in the world.
Most HR professionals said screening helped them to secure better quality candidates and provided their organisations with more consistent safety and security. Others believe that background checks led to a better company reputation and even helps with employee retention.
HireRight’s screenings found that every one in eight Indian candidates gave inaccurate information. In 2018, Samsonite CEO Ramesh Tainwala had to resign following allegations that he padded his resume. An activist short seller had alleged that the CEO had misrepresented himself as having a doctorate.
[“source=livemint”]