When it comes to pre-employment screening, there are no hard and fast rules. The elements of the application process will vary according to the nature of the work and the responsibilities of the specific job position. With this in mind, it is essential that employers think carefully about job responsibilities and develop the job screening process accordingly.

Pre-employment screening can take a variety of forms, depending on the type of work involved. For some people, this it will involve only a quick check of references via the telephone. For others, however, it will require a much lengthier evaluation, and multiple stages of comprehensive screening.

What to Expect from Pre-Employment Screening

What can you expect from thorough pre-employment screening? This is a difficult question to answer, given that screens will vary with job duties. However, many jobs require fingerprinting as a preliminary step. In addition, you may be requested to complete a physical and drug testing prior to beginning work. If the job involves any kind of manual labor or machinery operation, you can count on both of these screens during the application process.

Ultimately, the challenge of designing an appropriate pre-employment screening rests with employers. Federal regulations may guide some aspects of a background check, but employers are ultimately responsible for determining the suitability of job candidates. They should evaluate job duties and then develop a screening process that provides the necessary safeguards to ensure that employees perform up to par.