Reference checks

Originally Posted by Jennifer

What is past record? Arrests/conviction/sentencing/internal investigation by the company... sky is the limit.
A lot of past record is sealed and not available to any background check company.
Other details can be shared only with government/courts - eg. loans with a bank, hdb details, divorce/remarriage details.
Employment history is easier to check, as are academic details. Why should an employee be sacked for "record of stealing" unless there was a conviction?

There are plenty of misunderstanding about "backgorund checks". Hence I thought of clearing the air somewhat. (Source: working for a background check company in Singapore).

1. Academic records of Singapore - simplest to check out.
2. Academic records outside Singapore - complex to impossible to check out.
3. Employment dates of Singapore - somewhat easy to check.
4. Employment dates outside Singapore - complex to impossible to check out.
5. Credit history in Singapore - impossible to check. Credit bureaus and banks are forbidden to release this information, even if there is authorisation from candidate. Check out the banking act.
6. Bankruptcy record - easy to check in Singapore.
7. Arrest record - difficult to obtain. Getting arrested does not prove anything.
8. Convictions in Singapore - easy to check in Singapore.
9. National Service records - beyond what the candidate tells us, we can know nothing
10. Salary history - most employers refuse to cofirm or deny. We try to rely upon CPF statements provided by candidates.
11. Health records - impossible to obtain. Hospitals, clinics, and insurance companies simply don't share data.
12. Nature of candidate - everyone is good natured and agreeable

[boongaylim]

Originally Posted by background

There are plenty of misunderstanding about "backgorund checks". Hence I thought of clearing the air somewhat. (Source: working for a background check company in Singapore).

1. Academic records of Singapore - simplest to check out.
2. Academic records outside Singapore - complex to impossible to check out.
3. Employment dates of Singapore - somewhat easy to check.
4. Employment dates outside Singapore - complex to impossible to check out.
5. Credit history in Singapore - impossible to check. Credit bureaus and banks are forbidden to release this information, even if there is authorisation from candidate. Check out the banking act.
6. Bankruptcy record - easy to check in Singapore.
7. Arrest record - difficult to obtain. Getting arrested does not prove anything.
8. Convictions in Singapore - easy to check in Singapore.
9. National Service records - beyond what the candidate tells us, we can know nothing
10. Salary history - most employers refuse to cofirm or deny. We try to rely upon CPF statements provided by candidates.
11. Health records - impossible to obtain. Hospitals, clinics, and insurance companies simply don't share data.
12. Nature of candidate - everyone is good natured and agreeable

Hi, looks like you are a newbie or work for a good-for-nothing firm. We have our network and we can find out all about the candidate, even points that you say are "impossible to obtain". It is for our network that the employers pay and not for making some idle phone calls.

Originally Posted by gwk

Not sure, but once you signed the application form giving consent to do a background check on you, not sure how applicable the PDPA becomes. If you want the job, you have practically no choice but to accept disclosing.

I feel that there is a need to clarify the PDPA thingy.

You sign the PDPA = you consent for YOUR info to be disclosed (to a certain extent mandated by law to prevent overly onerous terms)

In other words, e.g. the bank to disclose, you got to sign such a specific clause to the bank '... I agree for the bank to disclose on my behalf to my prospective employer on my credit status, notwithstanding the amount of debts i've owed for the past decade and have only been paying interest...'

My point is, don't discuss about the law if you've no idea how it is operated in reality.

Hi everyone

If one intends to move to different organisation within the same industry (non-pte sector), will checks (e.g on work performance, conduct) be done with the current employer as part of the process for shortlisting interview candidates?

Do background checks involve verifying relationship with boss and reasons for leaving? Or more of how long you worked there and job scope?

Cos some people really leave a company because of toxic environment/boss but we don’t usually state that as our reason for leaving.

When we don’t have a good relationship with boss, they usu won’t have good things to say about our performance.

Is it ok to include reference details in cv?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Is it ok to include reference details in cv?

Ok but not necessary. You can provide only when employer asks for it.

Hi,

May I know how exactly does a company check up a candidate's employment history? I took a two year break in between jc n University due to medical reasons. So in my resume I mentioned I did flexi jobs for months whereas truth is I worked much less due to illness. Will these be verifiable by the employer?

If it’s optional, do you typically permit the prospective employer to contact your previous employers?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

If it’s optional, do you typically permit the prospective employer to contact your previous employers?

Go once the hr manager is a guy. So I included my naked photos among my resume package. End up no reference check straight hired. But in the end I let him piak piak me in office.