Is Identity Verification Part of a Pre-employment Background Screen?

There are some misconceptions among HR teams about what exactly a background check entails. According to Taylor Liggett, “Something that many within talent acquisition and employment might find surprising is that, at least within Ghana, a vast majority of background checks do not include identity verification as part of that process. It’s a huge misconception: when we survey individuals, around two-thirds of employers believe that identity verification is taken care of as part of the background check, and that’s simply not the case.”

Taylor goes on to explain that this misconception is something that needs to be better understood in organizations of all types. “From Sterling’s point of view, it’s never been more important to revisit that and implement solutions so that employers can confidently rely on the integrity of the background screen and know with confidence that the folks they are hiring are who they say they are.”

What is Digital Identity Verification?

In our everyday lives, if you need to verify your identity, you can simply show a document like your driver’s license. But the equivalent in our digital world often requires you to re-enter your information over and over again, every single time you make a transaction. Mark Lockwood of ID.me would like identity verification to be revolutionized in the same way that PayPal and Apple Pay revolutionized payments.

This way the identity verification process removes friction from different workflows without reducing the level of security.

This is the revolution happening right now in the digital identity space, involving a massive shift from transactional, one-time identity verification to a network-based, portable digital identity. Digital identity verification can be used for anything from verifying veteran status to receiving discounts, to approving an electronic prescription for controlled substances. Most importantly to HR teams, it is a timesaver in the employment sphere.

What Are the Benefits of Digital Identity Verification?

When implemented correctly, digital identity can be a major asset for employers looking to quickly and safely onboard top talent. Taylor notes that some of Sterling’s current clients have a hiring pool that is around 40% pre-verified, which speeds up time-to-hire. According to Taylor, “For those candidates, it’s an amazing experience with zero friction. They don’t have to do duplicate data entry. Even for those candidates that are new and adding all this information, they get to say, ‘I get to keep this digital identity, so the next time I have to do this, it’ll be much easier.’”

Digital identity verification through ID.me also helps brands find and engage with targeted audiences. A candidate applying for a job as a nurse, for example, can create their account, upload their credentials, and also receive a coupon from a partner organization. Mark elaborates, “We have 500 partners that offer discounts to special groups like medical staff and veterans. Not only is this streamlining the identity process, but there’s some additional benefits for the members who verify as well.”