Hiring new employees - catch a catfish with pre-employee investigations

With changing times there are also some big changes in the hiring process of companies. Anyone who has been dating in this generation has been very familiar with the word 'catfish'. But this word does not just remain in the world of romance. Nowadays, there are catfishes even in the business and corporate world.

Hiring new employees for your company can come at a cost. A proper hiring process is very mandatory for your company if you are willing to avoid big losses in the future. If you conduct a detailed hiring process, you will surely get the best fit for the company that would give its best to increase your brand's reach. After the period of the pandemic, working from home has become a popular choice in the corporate world which is also increasing the chances of hiring catfishes for your association. But without meeting in person, how will you know whether you are hiring a genuine person or a fraudster? Here, we will help you to know the ways through which you can easily identify a catfish.

What is catfishing?

Catfishing is when someone sets up a fake persona online to achieve something they want. The major objective of this fake persona is to trick others into sending money or conducting other abusive acts for their advantage. Catfishing has turned out to be a serious issue after the pandemic, all thanks to companies hiring new employees through online mediums. Earlier, catfishing mostly occurred on online dating sites but with time, it has also entered the world of employment.

Some people apply the catfishing technique when applying for a job. They plan to commit fraud or receive payment for work that they are not even qualified for.

How to avoid catfishing?

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts found out that almost 81% of candidates lie at some point while applying for a job. But, you do not have to worry much as there are some effective solutions to avoid getting catfished when hiring new employees for your association.

Checking their social media accounts

Conducting a social media investigation can result in diving into endless rabbit holes, especially for those candidates having common surnames. You must not automatically trust an applicant who says that they are not available on any social media platform as there are hundreds of social media platforms as of today's date. An active social media account and the activities on it will help you to know about the true nature of a potential employee more than a simple resume ever will.

Consider asking for references

Most employers keep optional reference sections while opening the hiring process. But, while proceeding with the interview, you must be more particular about it. To ensure that they are the right fit for your association in terms of personality, you must ask them for personal and professional references. Many employers just ask for references but you must contact those references for your safety and security. You should try to get a backdoor reference if possible so that you can trust your newly hired employee.

Verify their experience

In order to avoid being a victim of catfishing, you must pay proper attention to the skills that they have mentioned in their resumes. You must also know when to consider candidates as a red flag. Never opt for overqualified candidates because why would someone apply for a job that is beneath their qualification level? Thoroughly go through their resume and check their past experiences and the organizations that they have worked with previously.

Ask for detailed documentation

Whenever scheduling an interview, always ask for all the legal documentation proving their existence. Also, make sure that it is sent in person. If the candidate that you have chosen to proceed with is truthful, they will not hesitate to provide any documents and identification that are required to comply with your company’s employment standards.

Conduct a professional pre-employment investigation

No matter how careful you are with your hiring process, you might still have to face some bad hires. The best way to avoid bad hires is by conducting a pre-employee investigation. A thorough background check conducted by private detectives in India will help you to save your company from bad hires. Connect with a top agency while opening new hires and let them make it easy for you.

Conclusion

New hires are a crucial part of any company and they are considered to be a big investment. In this era full of scammers and fraudsters, it is very important for you to take time and conduct thorough research about a candidate before hiring them so that your company does not have to go through any losses in the future. Always make sure that whether you are in your first hiring process or your hundredth, have a detailed process to recruit and onboard new hires.