Most employers perform some kind of background check. According to the National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS), they primarily investigate criminal history in national and county or state databases.

When it comes to hiring, conducting background checks is a vital step. Doing so helps you better picture the applicant and protect your company, employees, and customers from potential risk and liability.

If there is a large volume of applicants, however, this process can be stressful and time-consuming. Not only that, it increases the possibility of a faulty background check. Here are ways you can improve your screening process.

Go Paperless

Using paper forms increases the risk of human error. Instead, start using digital forms and authorization documents that applicants can fill out and sign securely.

By going digital, you save time since all essential files are in one place, and it’s easier to search for them, granted that your documents are correctly labeled.

Integrate Your Screening Process with an ATS

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are a great way to collect, manage, and generally track candidates throughout the hiring process. They were designed to prevent applicants from getting lost during the process.

This system also screens candidates and eliminates those who aren’t a good fit, allowing you to focus on applicants with more potential.

ATS can also help the hiring process be more efficient and organized if you integrate it with other HR platforms, such as:

Social Media Postings – Links from social media directly leads applicants to the ATS
Job Boards – Automatically sends applicants to ATS for screening
Interview Scheduling – Dates and times can be stored in the system, where anyone can view them at any time.

Automate Key Processes

Technology has already significantly changed how hiring works. Job postings can reach people worldwide, documents are sent and signed remotely, and interviews are done virtually.

But when it comes to narrowing down applicants, technology can also help automate critical processes. Various software, systems, and services are available that can help you speed up the hiring process.

Background Screening Technology

Background screening technology can go beyond storing applicant profiles and results. They can help you identify mismatched social security numbers and get notifications of applicants with expiring work authorization.

By getting these alerts, you can quickly pinpoint who can move on to the next step, who needs further clarification, and who needs to be reconsidered.

Automated Initial Interviews

Another way automation can help the hiring process is by using dynamic scripting software for initial employee screening. An automated call with interview questions will be designed so you can filter out the candidates you want.

If the applicant meets your qualifications, details are delivered for follow-up and come in a format that suits your needs. You can even choose to connect with the caller in real-time.

However, if the candidate does not meet your specifications, the call will end. No further follow-up is required.