There have been a number of big-scale corporate crimes over recent years that have made executive background checks all the more important to companies who want to protect themselves from the abuses of potential employees.  Such a check should involve delving into the candidate’s educational and professional history as well as record of crime or wrongdoings.  To carry out such checks, employers need to obtain the correct disclosures in tandem with Federal Law and the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Possible Issues With Checks

The privacy of potential executives must be respected while upholding the standards of the company’s hiring policies.  Despite the growing popularity of executive background checks, there is some apprehension about how and to what extent to use them.  To maintain the easy-going “country club” vibe of the boardroom, employers might feel uncomfortable about delving into the intimate historical details of peers.  Executive Human Resource managers might feel that their network of contacts is strong and reliable enough, so background checks are rendered unnecessary.  Executive candidates themselves might feel that they are being picked on, or that they are wrongly being identified as a risk.  The way around that potential problem is to simply explain that an executive background check is a standard procedure that must apply to anyone, and that nobody who has to undergo it should feel that they are being judged.  The modern business environment means that most people should understand this anyway.

Finding A Company That Offers Executive Background Checks

All reputable, top-level companies offering this service must adhere firmly to Federal and State legislation governing privacy and confidentiality vis a vis background checks.  The benefit of using a service is that a potential hirer can have peace of mind that the check will be accurate, thorough, and fair.  Here are some recommended companies and resources:
www.plegroup.com/special/execchecks.html - extensive computer database is scoured for same-day basic checks and more comprehensive analyses for higher fees.  Typical information yielded includes education history, corporate affiliations and liens, judgments, and bankruptcies.
www.efindoutthetruth.com – offering a number of gradated checks including free criminal record search with all kinds of checks ordered.
www.hire-safe.com/html/executive_profile_background_s.html - you can get arguably the most comprehensive check fitting into 28 categories.
www.cuexecs.com/backgroundchecks.html - useful general guide to the topic, what to do and what not to do.
www.hr.blr.com/news.aspx?id=3908 – interesting article about the rise of executive background checks and their uses to the contemporary business world.

Checks You Can Do Yourself 

It might be worth ascertaining what research you can do yourself regarding a potential executive employee before possibly wasting money on additional services from a specialist company.  Contacting academic institutions can yield educational references, while professional history can be verified by contacting former employers and colleagues.  If a character reference is required, it is often worth getting in touch with persons who know the candidate well.  It’s best to be as prepared and well informed on this issue as possible, lest mistakes are made which harm the performance of your business.

Very Serious Business

Executive background checks have become so intense that they can often be close to 24-hour surveillance.  Interviews with the prospective executive’s estranged children, former spouses, ex-colleagues, and business partners are conducted to find out such precise details as whether the candidate took drugs as a youth.  Until recently, it was deemed embarrassing and insulting to ask an executive’s permission for a background check, but now the stakes are so high in business, what with corporate scandals and the credit crunch, employers need all the right ingredients for success.  If they miss an important detail in the history or character of one of their employees, this could spell total and utter disaster.

The Legal Ins And Outs

Regarding the criminal record of a potential executive, only certain aspects of it can be taken into account when considering their suitability for the position.  Employers need to find out if past arrests actually led to convictions – this is a crucial distinction that will massively affect the chances the executive has of being hired.  Generally speaking, candidates have a right to be told that a background check will be performed on them.  If they are agreeable to this, they should sign a release form, which gives permission for the check to be made.  Candidates should be advised of their rights and how these relate to any issues that might arise from the check.  Disclosure releases are usually also required by previous educational academies and past employers in order for them to provide you with the information you require.

Why Opt For An Executive Background Check Company?

Given that there is no central national resource of criminal and other personal information available to employees, one might try to obtain the required data from the County Courthouse.  However, this may not be a helpful option as the County Courthouse can charge very high fees, acts very slowly and bureaucratically, and will only hold local records relevant to that county only, and not other counties that may border it.  It is highly likely that your prospective executive has worked in several if not many counties during his or her career.  There are various services on the Internet that can track down certain records ort aspects of records, but they are not always reliable, comprehensive, or up to date.  Specific background check companies are really the way forward, as they unite all the various investigatory tentacles that need to be deployed in this area of investigation.  For competitive prices, you can obtain a top standard of expertise, fast turnaround time, and quality information that you know you can trust and work effectively with.  Whereas once such research could only be carried out by private detectives, police officers, or think tanks, the liberalization of data and freeing of the information flow has allowed a great number of reliable, reputable organizations employing the most competent minds available to spring up and serve the needs of the modern businessperson.