Spring Screening: Why You Need Background Checks for Your Spring Hires

First quarter is one of the busiest for hiring trends. Between February and May, many firms are taking on several new employees. As an employer, this is a good time to be thinking of conducting appropriate employee screening & background checks. On-boarding employees can be a complicated task, not including the risk of hiring someone with a criminal background unknowingly. 

There are huge costs associated with hiring the wrong employee for your organization. If the employee has problems that don't show up on the resume: such as addictions, credit issues, or criminal activity, these may show up later and cause massive HR problems that otherwise may have been avoided.

A background check can usually identify potential problems and may help in the decision making process. It is estimated that more than 40% of resumes contain false or tweaked information. You need to know if the potential employer actually graduated from and worked at where they claimed to have on their resume.

Some types of data may require the new hire to approve the release of information. Depending on the position, a police records check may be necessary.

We’ve compiled a list of Do’s and Don’ts to make things clearer for you,

1.) Do Be Broad - validate previous employment history, check references, check the internet, run a criminal record check

2.) Don't Break the Law - use a reputable firm to advise you on the type of information that can be checked without breaking privacy laws

3.) Do Be Consistent - apply the requirement for pre-employment screening to all short-listed candidates

4.) Don't Seek Only the Negative - background checks can be used to locate positives that can help you choose between well-qualified candidates

5.) Don't Try to do it all Online - Everything is not online! Much of the data that can be legally obtained is best accessed by a licensed firm.

The Renwick Group has experience working with many different types of businesses and organizations providing skip-tracing, fraud investigations, WSIB support, legal team assistance, evidence gathering, employee back-ground checks, and more. We also work with individuals who need help with personal matters. Call us at 1 (888) 722-9807   or visit our website for more contact information.

6 Steps to Prepare for an Employment Background Check

If you’ve recently had a job interview, and you’ve found out that your potential employer will be conducting a background check or pre-employment screening, it is important you prepare for this just as you prepared for your interview.

Understanding what is in a background check can enable you to pro-actively prepare as part of your strategy for employment search. When an employer requests a background check from a Private Investigator, you'll have a better idea of what will be discovered and more confident about how you will look to your potential employer.

So what is involved in a background check? Investigators will most likely look into the following things:

• Your Identity
• Your Education
• Your Financial & Credit History
• Your Driving Records
• Criminal Records
• Online Presence

So what are the steps you can take to prepare for this investigation into your background?

Clean Up Your Online Presence

This is the easiest way for you to make sure your background check comes up clean. Google yourself and see what comes up. Clean up your social media profiles, especially your LinkedIn and Facebook pages. On LinkedIn, your work history should match exactly what you’ve said on your resume.

Personal Identity

As part of the hiring process you should be able to confirm your identity without hunting around for the information you need. Keep at hand proof of identity such as your passport, driver's license and social insurance card.

Education

Employers may want to confirm your educational credentials, so be pro-active and order transcripts of your degrees, diplomas and important certificates. It's a good idea to keep a folder of documentation about courses you have attended or important conferences.

Financial & Credit History

If you are going to be put in charge of or responsible for money or company finances, your prospective employer may investigate your credit history. In Canada contact Equifax or Trans Union Canada to request a copy of your credit report. Take care of any issues right away so you know things are clear beforehand. You may need to confirm previous earnings with a T4, so be prepared to produce a T4 or your Notice of Assessment.

Criminal Record Checks

If you are applying for a position that requires a high security level or will be working directly with the public, you can obtain a Certified Criminal Record check from the RCMP and have this in your file. It is a good idea to verify this information is accurate before your employer pulls it up, just in case there are discrepancies that need to be corrected.

Give Friends, Families, and Coworkers a Heads Up

It is a good idea when you know that a background check will be performed on you to alert the people around you who may be contacted as part of the search. Give them a heads up that they may be contacted so they are prepared.

Discrepancies raise questions - and having a clear, consistent, authenticated story is so much better than trying to explain why sources of information about you, are not aligned.

Mark Swartz, Monster Senior Contributing Writer, writes - What you need to know before Potential Employers Investigate you, on this subject.

"Have you made an employer’s short-list in a job hunt lately? If you’re one of the finalist candidates – or the chosen applicant – the employer may want to conduct a background check on you before bringing you on board. Your work history, identity, financial, and criminal status may be scrutinized as part of the process.

Employers who conduct background checks want to confirm details about you and see if you present a risk to them. Being prepared will help you avoid any nasty surprises. After all the work you’ve done to get this far, you don’t want to let incorrect or missing information prevent you from getting that great new job."

The Renwick Group has experience working with many different types of businesses and organizations providing skip-tracing, fraud investigations, WSIB support, legal team assistance, evidence gathering, employee background checks, and more. We also work with individuals who need help with personal matters. Call us at 1 (888) 722-9807 or visit our website for information.

5 New Year’s Resolutions for Better Online Security

With the new year approaching, you are probably thinking of making some new year’s resolutions for yourself. Eat better, be more generous, spend more time with family etc… The new year is the perfect time to get a fresh start on everything from your health to your finances. At renwick, we love New Year’s resolutions and so we’ve thought of 5 good ones you should use to keep yourself protected online in 2016.

1. Use stronger passwords. As tempting as it is to use your birthday, name, or “password123” so it’s easy to remember, it is important to use strong and secure passwords. Use a unique password for each application, unrelated to your personal information. You should make it a combo of numbers, capital and lowercase letters, and symbols. You can also use a password manager if you have a hard time remembering all of these passwords!
2. Don’t overshare. Social media is a powerful thing. With millions of people using social media every day, and 65% of the adult american population using at least one type of social media, it’s no wonder it’s a popular setting for scam artists. If you want to share a photo of your sandwich go for it! But when it comes to personally identifying information such as banking institutions, birthdays, addresses, and when you’ll be on vacation: less is more.
3. Keep your devices secure. This means a few things. Have a lock on your mobile devices like tablets and cell phones. It is also a good idea to install a security software on your computers. Also be wary of “shoulder surfing”, which is when someone stands behind you to look at your screen for passwords or other confidential information.
4. Keep a closer eye on your finances. The sooner your report any discrepancies in your bank account, the better. Use online banking and check back often through your transaction history and ask about any purchases or withdrawals you don’t remember making. If you wait until your statement comes in, you might be too late.
5. Shop smarter. When shopping online, only buy from stores you are familiar with. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is! Don’t give away more information than needed to make a purchase.. and follow our online shopping guide:

We hope you find these resolutions useful in the New Year! Happy Holidays!

The Renwick Group has experience working with many different types of businesses and organizations providing skip-tracing, fraud investigations, WSIB support, legal team assistance, evidence gathering, employee background checks, and more. We also work with individuals who need help with personal matters. Call us at 1 (888) 722-9807 or visit our website for information

5 Tips to Safely Shop Online

Tips to staying safe while shopping online

As the holiday season approaches, you might be itching to start ( or have already started!) your gift shopping. There are many benefits to shopping online; it saves you time, money, and footwork when looking for deals. It’s very appealing to do all of your shopping from the comfort of your home and having the goods delivered right to your doorstep. The downside is that there is a risk with sharing your personal information online. Follow these 5 steps when online shopping this season to stay safe and protect yourself and your finances.

Use trusted sellers

Trust your gut when it comes to selecting where to purchase from online. Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, Indigo etc are all very well known brands who will offer secure online shopping through their websites. If you are using a new retailer that you are unfamiliar with, research them! Look for third party reviews and ratings, google their name and see what comes up etc..

Make sure you are typing the store’s URL directly into the browser address bar rather than clicking on ads or search results- as it is very easy for fraudulent websites to trick you into thinking they are legit. If the website looks off, shady, or poorly designed- trust your instincts and go somewhere else. You might be disappointed at losing a possible deal, but it is not worth risking your personal information getting into the wrong hands.

Know the policies

Read through the website's policies including their privacy statement, billing, guarantee, and shipping policies. Familiarize yourself with how the company conducts business so there are no surprises later on.

WiFi Safety

Try to use only secure and private networks when transmitting personal or identifying information. While it is not preferable, you may use public wifi to make your purchases as long as you keep in mind a few things:

• Try not to use a public computer to make your purchases as you have no idea what  software has been installed or who else might be connected.
• Use only well-known public hotspots. Walmart, McDonald’s, Chapters/Indigo, and Starbucks all have secure public hotspots, and keep in mind you always use those at your own risk.
• If you do use a public hotspot, be aware of ‘shoulder surfers’- those people who might be looking over your shoulder to read personal information off your screen.

Protect your personal information

It should go without saying that you should never give away sensitive information needlessly.  Online retailers do not need to know your SIN number or birthdate for you to make purchases. It is generally best practice to give the least amount of information possible. It is also a good idea to avoid clicking on links in emails. Phishing is a common scamming practice by which emails will look like they are coming from legitimate sources but actually are only sent to retrieve your confidential informaiton such as passwords, account numbers, ID numbers etc...

Make sure payment pages have secure connections

Legit websites will use a secure protocol to encrypt your information. If you look in the address bar, the URL should start with HTTPS:// and have a little icon of lock next to it. HTTP:// is NOT a secure connection. By looking for this feature, you are ensuring a secure transfer of your personal information.

Even with these best practices, there will always be a risk when shopping online. However by staying vigilant and following these tips you can greatly minimize this risk and enjoy all of the perks that come with shopping online.

The Renwick Group has experience working with many different types of businesses and organizations providing skip-tracing, fraud investigations, WSIB support, legal team assistance, evidence gathering, employee background checks, and more. We also work with individuals who need help with personal matters. Call us at 1 (888) 722-9807 or visit our website for information