Common Concerns/Issues with Small Business

As the owner of a background screening company, I often hear a pattern of concerns or statements from small business owners. One of the most common concerns I hear is how to handle county screenings that aren’t online. You know the ones – they think they can stop time as if it is 1952 and computers don’t exist, yet. Their databases are only available by either walking directly into the county courthouse or faxing a request form. I envision an elderly woman behind the counter with a beehive hairdo, pictures of her great grandchildren and ‘ol blue eyes’ Frank Sinatra sound waves wafting through the airwaves.
The problem is when county databases aren’t online, it takes longer to get the information. In the meantime, the potential employee is in a holding pattern. More than once, I have heard of employees finding and taking another job with a different (second) company while the first company is still waiting for the background check.  The good news is most databases are online now and more join the 21^st century (or should we say the 20^th century) every year.
Another issue I hear often is an increasing pattern of potential employees misrepresenting  their educational achievements.  The latest statistics say 40% of all job applicants misrepresent the facts; 30% contain out-right lies. Many small companies do not even stop to think whether a degree is valid or from an accredited university.  It’s extremely easy to buy a diploma mill degree. In other words, if I pay $5,000.00, I can buy a doctorate by taking a few correspondence classes. Not to mention, that $5,000.00 provides me a customer service rep who sits in his cubicle all day answering calls from people like you confirming Joe actually does have a doctorate. It’s not an accredited doctorate by any means, but it is a doctorate.  As the employer, you now have to figure out how Joe, with the doctorate in business management, is going to handle the work as your COO. Once the business finds out the employee isn’t up to the task, it’s usually too late. You’ve already invested time and money in this person only to find out he doesn’t know a thing about business management or whatever degree he listed on his résumé. This is why it’s extremely important to check for accuracy. You can use the National Student Clearinghouse as a first step.
http://www.studentclearinghouse.org/
Whatever you do, please take the time to either research the information yourself or find a company who can research the information for you. Do not take the applicant at his word- even if he does know your sister’s brother’s cousin.