---
title: Four Ways to Speed Up Your Background Checks
description: Improving the turnaround time of your background checks helps your company secure top talent. Here's how to do it.
---

[HiringThing Blog](https://blog.hiringthing.com)

# [Four Ways to Speed Up Your Background Checks](https://blog.hiringthing.com/speed-up-background-checks)

 Written by [Alisiana Peters](https://blog.hiringthing.com/author/alisiana-peters) | February 28, 2018

*Improving the turnaround time of your background checks helps your company acquire top talent and creates a stronger talent pipeline. Here are four simple things you can do to improve your turnaround time.* 

After completing an interview process and finding the candidate of your dreams, [completion of a background check](https://blog.hiringthing.com/prioritize-references-background-checks) is often the final requirement on your hiring checklist. A fast background check helps your company acquire top talent and improve productivity through filling open positions more quickly. With this in mind, it’s not surprising that many hiring managers view turnaround time as the most important factor when conducting a background screening.

​Despite this, there are a few considerations that make it difficult to complete a background check quickly. Some factors, such as verification delays from an employer, an inefficient retrieval system for court records, or a slow response from a county clerk, are outside the control of a screening provider. Fortunately, not everything is out of your hands.

There are several things you can do to improve the speed of your background checks.

## 1. Choose the Right Screening Provider

Some businesses make the mistake of only choosing a screening provider based on cost, rather than quality and turnaround time. However, this approach can actually lead to higher costs if you take into account increased [time-to-hire](https://blog.hiringthing.com/fill-job-faster-with-ai) and loss of productivity from unfilled positions. When choosing a provider, it’s beneficial to choose one with business practices streamlined for quick turnaround.

For example, many providers outsource their workers overseas, which often create longer turnaround times because of a language barrier and a lack of familiarity of the American judicial system. Verified First employs all of their customer service and compliance agents in their Meridian, Idaho headquarters. Our local expertise results in faster turnaround times for our clients.

## 2. Leverage an Online Collection Process

If your provider collects candidate data online, leveraging their process will improve hiring efficiencies. An online ordering progress or [applicant tracking system](https://blog.hiringthing.com/all-businesses-benefit-from-ats-use) integration creates many benefits for an employer. It will reduce data errors, duplicate information, and expedite obtaining candidate approval for screening. A smooth online process also improves the candidate experience – creating a stronger brand and impression of your organization.

## 3. Provide All Necessary Documentation

Screening providers need specific documentation before they can run a background check. Some information is required to run a search, such as a candidate’s SSN and date of birth. Other documentation, such as a signed disclosure and authorization forms, is required to comply with legal requirements such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).

Before submitting an order directly to your provider, review a checklist of required materials. If you submit an order without required information, it will take more time when your screening professionals need to follow up for more information. Through ensuring your provider has everything they need the first time, you will reduce a delay in the screening process.

## 4. Submit Your Screening Request Early in the Day

Many screening researchers have dozens of names on their task lists for high-volume search areas. Because orders are typically processed in the order they are received, an early request makes it more likely that your order will begin processing in the same day.

## Faster Turnaround Time Improves Your Hiring Process

A faster turnaround time has significant benefits for onboarding. If you extend a job offer contingent on passing a background check, a fast turnaround will reduce the chance that a candidate will lose interest or move on to a different offer. Through implementing the above steps, you can mitigate unnecessary delays in your background check turnaround times.

Speed is only part of the story. A well-run screening program also pays for itself.

## Six Ways Background Screenings Boost Your Bottom Line

### **1. Shorten Recruiting Time by Weeding Out Unsuitable Candidates**

When a position opens up, hiring managers go through a time-consuming process selecting, interviewing, and approving candidates. Through implementing an accurate screening program, unsafe or unqualified people are filtered out, creating a smaller pool of viable candidates. This saves time and money during the hiring process.

### **2. Reduce the Risk of Hiring Toxic Employees**

Every job opening has several qualifications required for candidates, especially with education and professional work history. However, it’s common for candidates to embellish their resumes or list false job qualifications. In fact, a 2017 [article from Inc. Magazine](https://www.inc.com/jt-odonnell/staggering-85-of-job-applicants-lying-on-resumes-.html) reported that 85% of employers caught lies on resumes or applications, a significant increase from 66% of employers five years ago. Because extending a job offer to an unqualified person could cost a significant amount of money, verifying his or her professional qualifications could mitigate these losses.

### **3. Reduce Employee Turnover**

According to [the Center for American Progress (CAP)](https://www.americanprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/CostofTurnover.pdf), the cost to replace a bad hire is approximately 20% of an employee’s salary, or $6,000–$15,000 for the average worker. Aside from the financial impact, replacing a bad hire lowers morale and productivity, encourages employee departures, and creates a burden for teams. Background screenings are a sound business practice that reduces this impact.

### **4. Reduce Theft or Fraud**

Employee theft and fraud create significant costs for companies. A report from the US Retail Fraud Survey identified theft as the biggest cause of loss to retailers. According to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, the typical organization loses 5% of revenue to fraud each year, with a median loss of $140,000. Background screenings reduce the possibility of theft or fraud by revealing past work history and traits that suggest future risky behavior, allowing hiring managers to screen out these candidates.

### **5. Avoid Lawsuits Related to Negligent Hiring**

Lawsuits for negligent hiring can be costly and devastating to a company’s reputation. Background checks protect your company and employees by identifying candidates that could pose a danger. Through an effective screening process, you will also demonstrate due diligence if an incident occurs.

### **6. Avoid Losing Customers**

Many companies work hard to grow their customer base, which can easily be undone through the mismanagement of an incompetent employee. A thorough background screening will reveal information from a candidate’s work history that can best help you evaluate his or her qualifications. Making informed hiring decisions will help you hire people that will retain and  grow your customer base.

## **Speed Up Your Background Screening With Integrated Solutions**

The easiest way to put these tips into practice is to run background checks from inside your applicant tracking system. HiringThing integrates with leading screening providers so you can order and review checks without switching systems.

### Verified First

If you’re a HiringThing customer, you’re in luck. Verified First provides background screening products that integrate with HiringThing’s platform, saving you time and speeding up the hiring process. You may access these tools by logging into your HiringThing account and requesting background screening from your dashboard.

### Checkr

Checkr was founded by a group of engineers to help revolutionize the background screening process through technology, automation and augmentation. Checkr was able to uncover the common areas of human-based errors to make the background screening process quick and simple for Enterprises and startups.

Checkr's approach is built on six pillars:

1. **Speed**    
   Checkr’s software brings a high level of automation to the background screening process and is designed to deliver fast turnaround times.
2. **Accuracy**  
   Checkr reports a dispute rate 10X lower than the industry average
3. **Compliance**  
   Helps you stay compliant with both EEOC and FCRA
4. **Workflow Simplification**  
   Checkr's adjudication matrix uses machine learning to surface only charges that are applicable to the job in question, and screening packages can be managed self-serve
5. **Best-in-Class Service**  
   Checkr reports 98% customer satisfaction
6. **Cost**  
   Checkr cites cost savings of 15% or more

For HiringThing customers, Checkr protects your investment with functionality through superior technology, quick turnaround times, and seamless integration.

Through OAuth and its robust API, Checkr enables HR teams and recruiters to quickly link and integrate the two systems, then execute and oversee the candidate screening lifecycle from your HiringThing account. Users are able to kick off background checks, review status and results and jump right into the intuitive report to adjudicate.

Learn more about [Checkr](https://checkr.com/product/), or to get Checkr activated inside your HiringThing, [contact our support team](http://support.hiringthing.com/support/tickets/new).

*Portions of this article are courtesy of our partner, Verified First. [Visit their website](https://www.verifiedfirst.com/hiringthing.html) to learn more about how our integration speeds up your hiring process.*

### About HiringThing

[HiringThing is a modern recruiting and employee onboarding platform](https://www.hiringthing.com/)as a service that creates seamless talent experiences. Our [white label solutions](https://blog.hiringthing.com/guide-to-white-label-saas-partnerships) and open API enable technology and service providers to offer hiring and onboarding to their clients. Approachable and adaptable, the platform empowers anyone, anywhere to build their dream team.

Approachable and adaptable, the HiringThing platform empowers everyone, everywhere, to hire their dream team. Try our easy-to-use, feature-rich applicant tracking system with a [free 14-day trial](https://register.hiringthing.com/register/start) today!

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