When Should You Do a Background Check?

You should always conduct background checks before you make an offer to a job candidate — never after. It's much easier not to hire people than it is to fire them once they start working for you.

Don't worry that performing a background check will delay your offer or allow another firm

to snap up your candidate. Many background checks take less than 48 hours. You'll be glad you waited if it turns out that your prospective accounts payable person has a bad credit record or your delivery candidate has been arrested twice for reckless driving. You'll also save yourself the hassle of going through the hiring process twice for the same position.

Think about it this way: Background checks typically cost less than you'd pay a potentially troublesome employee on his or her first day on the job.