As mentioned by BusinessKnowledgeSource.com, hiring someone means you should look for a person who is wonderful enough to fulfill the job. By this, the site means that you would not hire someone who has a record in stealing and drug use. This is why most of you employers out there (if not all) will require drug testing and background screening before you employ someone in your company. Here is what you should know about these procedures.

1. Hire a company who will perform these two things for you. Background screening and drug tests should be done by another entity other than your office. Be careful when choosing one though. Do not just go for one that will offer you a cheap package. They can be too good to be true.
2. Know what is included in a background check. This would include criminal and driving records as well as credit scores. Sex offender registries may also be checked by your chosen service provider.
3. Check with the references provided by the applicant in his resume (or curriculum vitae). This is essential if you want to make sure you are getting a good employee.
4. Determine the position the applicant wants to have in your company. This will dictate as to what extent your background screening should go. This will also help you while asking a service provider to do the job for you. Through this, they will know how much information you want to have about the applicant when they prepare the report.
5. Drug testing wise, you should know what type of drug is included in the procedure. Illegal drugs such as marijuana, PCP, cocaine and heroin are four of the most common types determined in a drug test. Some drug testing companies, however, have changed their style in conducting the screening process. They would consider drugs that were most popular for the past years.
6. Some applicants may use a “masking agent” during the drug testing procedure. A masking agent is a urine substance or a hair sample that does not belong to your applicant. They use such to cheat results and to get the position they want in your company.
7. There are certain cut-off levels in a drug test. Cut-off levels, according to the US Department of Labor, are levels that will help you understand what to expect out of a drug testing process. When the cut-off level you have set is low, then tendency is there might be more false positive results. On the other hand, higher cut-off levels may result to more false negatives.
8. Drugs have their own detection windows. This is the time frame by which a certain type of drug may be detected as present in one’s bloodstream. Estimates can be seen in the list provided by the US Department of Labor website under the Drug-Free Workplace heading.
9. You actually pay for the drug test. According to SAMHSA, as cited by the Department of Labor site, employers are usually accountable for the fees incurred in a drug testing process.
10. Each state has its own laws pertinent to pre-employment drug testing. Best Job Interview emphasizes that you should let applicants know that the process is part of your requirements for them to be hired for the job. A conditional offer of employment may be necessary before the testing can be conducted.

You have to be guided by these background screening and drug testing facts before you even hire a new employee in your business. That way, you will know what to expect out of this process.

This Article is written by Lena Butler, contributor of  Health & Drug Testing Information Center.

Posted under Background Screening
Tags: Background Screening, Drug Testing - General, drug tests, employee background screening.