When companies consider a potential background screening partner, many ask the same questions:
- How fast can you complete a background check?
- How thorough are your background check reports?
- How much do your background checks cost?
These are all important questions. But there’s one question that prospects almost never ask that’s equally important:
- What kind of training program do you have for the staff of investigative analysts who perform the actual background screening work?
It’s an important question because our background screening training program and our approach to employee development play a key role in delivering the type of product our clients have come to expect from us.
Our Background Screening Training Program
Our training and quality assurance practices are rigorous, and our investigative analysts are encouraged to continually grow their skills and expertise, as well as rewarded for doing so.
As you’d expect, all analysts receive extensive training on how to perform various searches for clients. They learn federal and state laws and regulations. A manager reviews their proficiency before they can complete work independently.
But that’s just the start. At Integras Intelligence, our analysts’ education doesn’t end. As they master basic searches, additional competencies are regularly added to their repertoire to keep them challenged.
Every month, analysts must master an in-depth training session with a formal, electronically documented test to learn more complex searches and concepts. Junior managers and supervisors lead training lessons to develop their teaching and coaching skills so they can eventually take on greater responsibilities.
Our investigative analysts meet with a senior manager daily to review in-process and recently completed work. We frequently quiz them about search results identified during this time—“Does this result answer our clients’ question?”, “Is this record reportable under the FCRA?” This process develops their ability to think independently and to complete their work with less management supervision.
In addition, we pay for all staff members to obtain FCRA Basic Certification through the Professional Background Screening Association and for them to pursue FCRA Advanced Certification once eligible. While these certifications are not necessary for our staff to perform their day-to-day work, we want them to understand the laws that govern our industry, to know that background screening can be a long-term career for them, and to take pride in being part of our industry.
Benefits of Extensive Training
Employees who grow, solve problems independently and approach their work as a long-term career perform better—not just for us, but for our customers, too. Well-trained, experienced investigative analysts lead to the following improvements.
Quality. In our industry, to minimize labor costs, many investigative analysts are trained only to perform the simple task of running a search. Our analysts also learn to scrutinize search results, identify potential gaps in information, and fill those gaps through research. This leads to better reports, preempting many client questions. Because we don’t limit their potential growth, our investigative analysts also stay with us longer, and our clients benefit from the team’s collective experience.
Compliance. In addition to having FCRA certification, our front-line analysts receive regular training in the FCRA and other laws governing the information we report. They are active participants in ensuring the information reported complies with relevant laws and regulations, significantly lowering the probability of a dispute between you and your prospective employee(s). This significantly protects clients by reducing potential liability.
Speed and Productivity. Educated, engaged employees not only produce work of better quality, but they also complete more work, faster, with less review and re-work.
These improvements ultimately lead to higher-quality reports for our customers, along with faster turnaround times and competitive pricing. So, the next time you vet an investigative partner, don’t just ask about their speed, thoroughness and pricing; ask how they train their team to achieve these qualities.
