I use Joe from Guardian Testing for my background checks. He was recommended to me on Twitter, and he's exactly what you need if you're doing checks on your candidates or employees. This is an unpaid endorsement.
1) Joe, can you tell me a little bit about your company and what you do? No marketing speak is allowed for this question.
Guardian Testing Services is a full service drug testing and background check company specializing in pre-employment screening of candidates in both regulated and non regulated industries.
2) Background checks used to take me a week and cost $100 ? Is that still the case? And does it matter based on how many counties they lived in?
Generally, background check results will be available within 24-48 hours unless there are charges that are uncovered which were not disclosed during the application process requiring verification for accuracy. The cost can range anywhere from $19 - $150 based on the level of checks required, but 90% of the searches we conduct for our clients range between $49 -$69.
3) What kind of tests do you do? What kind should I be doing on a candidate? And when should I do a check?
Guardian Testing Services conducts pre-employment drug and alcohol testing, as well as, background checks for our nationwide clients. There are many different pre-employment screening packages spanning every price point for clients of all sizes. We’ve done drug testing and background checks for clients ranging from $60 all the way up to $200 for very senior executive placements in sensitive positions, requiring extremely thorough screening.
The list of our services is very extensive, but the most common searches include: SSN # verification, criminal records; sexual offender search; civil records; motor vehicle reports; credit reports; eviction reports; education verification, and employment verification.
It’s important when deciding to use background checks as part of a pre-employment screening process, to clarify exactly what the intent of the checks are “up front”? If a company only wants to verify that an applicant is not a “wanted” criminal or convicted sex offender and will not pose a threat or liability if they extend a formal offer of employment, there are many ways to conduct these checks using a multitude of sources including, local, county, state and national crime databases, FBI databases and many more sources where conviction records are maintained. However, if the position you are hiring for is a critical position requiring “absolute accuracy” and a complete exhaustive search of every city, county, state and federal district of the applicant, this will obviously take much longer and increase in cost, requiring investigators to physically travel to each geographic location and conduct personal interviews and screenings of court records. Again, this all needs to be determined “up front” when deciding to use background checks as part of the employment screening process.
The same applies to pre-employment drug testing. If the intent is to verify that the candidate is “drug free” before extending an official offer of employment, there are many methods to conduct drug testing at very reasonable price points; as low as $10.00. Based on the level of candidates being screened, drug testing can increase in both cost and accuracy, testing for drug use as far back as 90 days and increasing in cost up to $140.00. This method completely eliminates the possibility of adulterating any drug samples or having the applicant attempt to “clean their system”; it is literally 100% accurate.
Overall, drug testing and background checks are an excellent method of protecting a company and the liability they accept when hiring candidates. For an average of $75 per candidate to conduct pre-employment drug testing and background checks, the payback or return on investment is enormous. In many cases, companies can realize a significant reduction in workman’s compensation as a result of implementing a “drug free workplace” program. The program will literally pay for itself.
4) Tell me a little bit about the process in getting this done. How much work do I have to do?
Every company is different in how they set up their processes. With Guardian Testing Services, we strive to simplify this process and reduce the administrative burden from our clients. Once an applicant has been identified as a strong candidate for employment and a decision has been made to screen this applicant, whether drug testing, background checks, or both; all we need if the candidates contact information; name, phone number and e-mail address and the type of screening you want conducted. That’s it….we take it from there and initiate all screening processes sending the results directly back to our client. Our results are verified by licensed private investigators and maintained on file with Guardian Testing Services for a period of two years.
5) Anything you want to pitch?
Many organizations currently have “Drug Free Workplace” programs in place and/or are conducting individual drug testing on their employees. With the financial crisis our nation’s economy is going through, every organization is seeking methods of reducing costs. Guardian Testing Services has the ability to reduce the amount that these companies are currently spending on their drug testing by 50-70%, without compromising quality or accuracy......guaranteed! Imagine being the HR manager that can propose a 50% reduction in drug screening costs to their senior management without decreasing quality, accuracy and still protect the liability of the company.
To contact Joe, head on over to his background check vendor website and give him a call. I use him for background checks for candidates prior to the job offer, and it's a lot cheaper and just as effective as other firms.
