A number of recruitment innovations emerge annually which enable businesses to work faster and more efficiently when sifting through candidates to find the perfect fit for their companies. Of the many 2017 trends in South Africa, the latest is gamification, a practice in which candidates engage in game playing and point scoring applications to test their logic, skills and creativity.

A Careers24 report, released late last year, cited some of the other recruitment trends with several notable highlights. These include the increasing role of technology in the recruitment process, where job-seekers are using smartphones to access job postings; as well as the use of data analytics by recruiters to plan ahead. The report also indicated that the balance of power has shifted somewhat to favour those job seekers in possession of both skill and experience.

While these trends offer many benefits and value to the recruitment process, some recruitment practices such as background screening remain timeless. Background screening is reliable, credible and provides valuable information on the candidate, says Rudi Kruger, general manager of Risk Solutions at LexisNexis Data Services.

“Taking on new employees can be a precarious and costly venture, with time, resources and security at risk. Many of the past and future trends may assist in simplifying the candidate selection process, however only a comprehensive background check will establish a job candidate's history, character, fitness and academic qualifications,” said Kruger.

“These checks are essential to any recruitment initiative because they reveal the true identities of candidates. So regardless of which new trends and technology enter the field, recruiters should never neglect to conduct essential background screening on every candidate,” said Kruger.
Relevant background checks include:

• Criminal Illicit Activity
• Credit Bureau Reports
• School and Tertiary Academic Qualifications
• Employment History
• Professional Association Memberships
• Fit & Proper Screening
• ID Verification
• Drivers Licence
• Permanent Residency
• Bank Verification

Background screening, is simplified with Lexis® RefCheck, a background screening solution that assists employers with verifying a wide range of personal information, including identity of candidate, information held by credit bureaus, criminal records, driver's licenses, global academic qualifications and professional association memberships. Lexis RefCheck also provides a valuable employee due diligence and audit tool 24/7. For more information, visit www.lnrisk.co.za or register at www.refcheckadvanced.co.za