Why Do Employers Need to Verify Education History?
Enhanced Credibility and Trust
Education verification fosters an environment of credibility and trust within the organization. This investment in due diligence pays dividends in the form of higher workforce integrity and morale.
Employees are more likely to trust and respect their employer when they know that every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of their colleagues' credentials. By verifying education, employers can demonstrate a strong commitment to maintaining high standards within their company.
Compliance with Industry Standards
In certain industries, such as healthcare or finance, strict regulations require employees to have specific qualifications. Failure to comply with these standards can result in hefty fines and penalties for the company.
By verifying education during the background check process, employers can ensure that all employees meet the necessary requirements set by industry regulators. This helps avoid potential legal issues and demonstrates the company's commitment to upholding industry standards.
Avoid Negligent Hiring Liability
Background checks protect the company from potential lawsuits and legal issues arising out of fraudulent credentials. Performing education background checks is especially crucial in industries where specific qualifications are required by law.
If an employee is found to have falsified their education, the company can be held liable for any damages or losses incurred due to their lack of qualifications. By verifying education, employers can avoid these costly legal entanglements and protect their bottom line.
Improved Quality of Hires
Verifying a candidate's formal education not only ensures that they possess the necessary qualifications but also provides insight into their work ethic and dedication. Candidates who have put in the effort to obtain genuine qualifications are more likely to be motivated, hardworking, and committed employees.
This leads to improved overall quality of hires, resulting in a more efficient and productive workforce. By verifying education, employers can increase the chances of hiring top-performing candidates for their organization.
Maintaining Company Reputation
A company's reputation is one of its most valuable assets, and it can be easily tarnished by employees with fraudulent credentials. In today's age of social media and online reviews, any negative news about a company can spread rapidly and have lasting consequences.
By conducting education background checks, employers can safeguard their reputation by ensuring that all employees possess legitimate qualifications. This promotes trust and credibility in the company, both internally and externally.
Weed Out Dishonest Candidates
Education verification checks can help identify candidates who may have a history of dishonesty or unethical behavior. If a candidate has falsified their education, it may indicate that they have a tendency to cut corners and take shortcuts.
By verifying education, employers can weed out dishonest candidates and avoid potential issues in the future. This also promotes a culture of honesty and integrity within the company.
How Do Employers Verify Education & College Degrees?
Use a Third-Party Education Verification Service
Employers can verify education and college degrees by using a third-party verification service, such as our service at KRESS Inc. These services typically work directly with schools and universities to conduct education verification and confirm a candidate's educational history, including course completion and degree certification.
They may also perform additional checks, such as checking for any discrepancies or falsifications in the provided information. This provides employers with peace of mind, knowing that their hiring decisions are based on accurate and reliable information.
Register with the National Student Clearinghouse
Employers intending to conduct educational verification in-house can perform education verification searches using the National Student Clearinghouse.
This nationwide online portal provides the ability to validate a candidate's education history. The process, however, requires employers to register with the Clearinghouse and demonstrate a valid premise for requesting the applicant's data.
Not all institutions are affiliated with the Clearinghouse, so this option may not be feasible for all educational background checks. In this scenario, it is important for employers to have alternative methods in place to verify education and college degrees.
Contact the Claimed Educational Institution Directly
Another option for verifying education and college degrees is to contact the claimed educational institution directly. This can involve reaching out to the admissions office or registrar's office, which will then provide confirmation of a candidate's qualifications.
While this may seem like a simple solution, it can be time-consuming and may not always yield accurate information. Schools may have strict policies on disclosing student records, and some may require a written request from the candidate before releasing any information. Additionally, with the potential for human error or miscommunication, there is a higher risk of receiving incorrect or incomplete data.
How to Spot a Fake Degree on Your Applicant's Resume
Unfortunately, in today's digital age, it is becoming increasingly common for individuals to falsify their educational credentials. This can range from completely fabricating a degree from a non-existent institution to purchasing fake diplomas or certificates online.
Thankfully, there are some red flags that employers can look out for to identify potential fraudulent degrees on an applicant's resume:
- Grammatical errors or inconsistencies in the details of the degree (e.g., misspelled school name, incorrect degree title)
- Lack of verifiable information on the institution or program (e.g., no website, non-accredited institution)
- Short time frame for obtaining advanced degrees (e.g., a doctorate in just one year)
- Claiming to have obtained multiple degrees from different institutions within a short span of time
- Refusal to provide transcripts or proof of education when requested
- Claims of attending prestigious universities that do not offer the degree they claim to have obtained
If you come across any of these warning signs, it is important to thoroughly verify the educational background of your potential employee before making a decision. This is where our educational background check services come into play.
Our team of experts is well-versed in conducting comprehensive checks to validate an applicant's education history.
We go beyond just checking for the existence of a degree or institution and dive into details such as course credits, academic achievements, and dates of attendance. This level of scrutiny helps to weed out any fraudulent claims on an applicant's application.
What are the Legalities Around Education Verification?
Employment background screenings, including education verifications, are supervised at various federal, state, and local levels. These laws delineate the procedures employers or consumer reporting agencies (CRAs) must follow while conducting background checks, the type of information that can be included in a background check report, and the application of the results in the overall process.
To prevent discriminatory practices, guidelines have been established by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to assist employers in evaluating background check findings. These guidelines emphasize the importance of considering individual circumstances before making any employment decisions based on background check results.
Employers are also required to obtain written consent from candidates before conducting a background check. This ensures transparency and allows candidates to review their own pre-employment background check and information for any inaccuracies that may have been reported.
Additionally, employers are required to provide candidates with a copy of their rights under the FCRA before taking any adverse actions based on background check results.
