According to Neeyamo , one in six candidates misrepresents education or employment records.
Confirm the Applicant is Qualified
New technology and online businesses make it easy to create a fake diploma or another certification. If they claim other achievements, such as graduating with distinction, the investigator should ask about them as well. A candidate claiming to have degrees they never earned might seem minor, but it can cause true harm to a business. For example, imagine learning your family doctor never attended medical school. For some industries, there are other job-related qualifications that the applicant must possess beyond education and experience.
For example, if you are the hiring manager for a busy emergency pet hospital, the investigator should check that the potential new hire is in good standing with the American Veterinary Medical Association. Having this certification shows that the candidate is registered, fit to practice and does not have any open investigations against them. For many years the Department of Veterans Affairs was illegally hiring doctors and other health care professionals with revoked licenses.
One VA employee, a neurosurgeon, had a number of malpractice claims and settlements against him. This is only one of many instances of negligent hiring for VA. The next step is to verify that the applicant is telling the truth on their resume, cover letter and applicant questionnaire. The best way to do that is to reach out to those who know them.
The recruiter, hiring manager or other HR professional usually takes on this task. Regardless, the goal is to communicate with a reference who can either confirm or deny what the applicant is claiming to be true. The reference may be able line up dates and figure out work history gaps. Speaking with references is also a great opportunity to ask open-ended questions.
If the response is anything other than 10, Svei says, ask about the gap. How they answer this will reveal a lot. Criminal record, driving and credit checks hold a lot of valuable information. Conducting a criminal record check is one of the most common steps in a background investigation. A survey from found that only 10 per cent of employers do not check criminal records in their hiring process. And, more importantly, what kind of crime was it? A misdemeanor or a felony?
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What was the nature of the crime? When did the crime occur? Was this a first offense or one of many? While there is a lot of valuable information here, the use of criminal record checks may negatively impact diversity applications. Find this article too late? Already hired someone severely underqualified? Section VIII, Employer Best Practices, is particularly insightful for employers who are considering criminal record information when making employment decisions. While a criminal record check can reveal whether or not an applicant has been in trouble with the law, a consumer report can show some undesirable traits.
For example, imagine the hiring manager of an accounting firm requests a consumer report for a potential new hire. They notice that the individual has significant debt and has been struggling financially for decades. This person should not be teaching others how to be savvy with money. The FCRA strictly regulates the use of credit checks in hiring. The U. Bureau of Labor Statistics BLS does not distinguish between police officers and detectives, but the general estimation for this group of professionals is a 7 percent job growth between and Salary rates are similarly tricky to unpack.
The BLS does have salary and employment data for detectives, but not for those in a lead detective position.
What Does a Background Check Consist Of?
Lead detectives, however, are likely to possess higher levels of education and more experience than the average detective, and thus are more likely to earn an above-average salary. A significant factor to consider when looking at salary and employment data is geographic location.
Since forensic investigators typically work for federal, state, and local law enforcement, the largest number of detectives is in the states with the largest populations: Texas, California, Florida, and New York. Large metropolitan areas like New York and Los Angeles, and geographically well-positioned places for the profession—such as Washington DC, home to all federal agencies—have high employment numbers and high average salaries to match. People do not become forensic investigators to make a lot of money, but they can expect to make more than a living wage for their efforts.
Since public sector agencies make up the bulk of employers, lead detectives can also look forward to a robust benefits package. The road to this career, however, can be arduous, and persistence and dedication are necessary. Criminal justice and forensic investigation are majors that can prepare a graduate for a wide variety of positions. Students who intend to specialize later in their career—for example, in biological sciences, cybercrime, financial crime, or digital forensics—may choose to orient their undergraduate education in that direction.
Outside of the standard curriculum, many students choose to get an internship while completing their degree. To earn the role of lead detective, young detectives will need to gain a lot of experience first.
For those with a degree in criminal justice, the next step could be working up through the ranks of a municipal or state police department towards the role of detective. Those who work at any public sector agency will often be put through rigorous hands-on training. Those who completed a specialized degree can find roles in the private sector.
Jobs in finance and IT, for example, can provide critical experience in actual investigations. Law enforcement agencies, especially at the federal level, take such hands-on knowledge into account when hiring from outside for positions in their cybercrime or financial crime departments, for example. No matter which path one chooses, this step of gaining experience is critical in the pursuit of becoming a lead detective.
Background Checks
Furthermore, graduate-level degrees in relevant fields can include leadership and organizational training in preparation for someone to manage an investigative team later in their career. For leaders in any field, the cycle of gaining experience and further education never ends. As technology and investigative practices evolve and become more sophisticated, it is crucial that detectives stay on top of new trends in the field. These type of organizations not only provide academic and technical resources but also foster a network of like-minded professionals dedicated to becoming experts.
Another avenue for aspiring lead detectives to explore is gaining official certification. For those ready to get started on their journey to becoming a forensic investigator, below are a few bachelor- and master-level programs:. There are various online master's programs available in criminal justice which do not require GRE scores for admission. Forensic science technicians have a regular presence at crime scenes, aiding in the process of criminal investigations under a crime scene leader or field supervisor.