How Do You Verify a Senior Candidate's Background When They're Still at Their Job?

Hi All, how do you perform effective background verification of a senior candidate, especially from the same organization they are currently working with?

Warm Regards, Yogita

Thank you very much for your response. I have visited the links, but my problem is with a senior candidate who is unable to provide salary proofs. Only a salary certificate is available as the candidate is very senior, and they have been with their current organization for the past 10 years. How can we verify the authenticity of this situation?

Regards, Yogita

You can ask for the recent appraisal letters. Alternatively, you can request him to send his bank statement where you can find his salary credited. Whoever it may be, they have to provide the proof, or it is not genuine. Some cases may be exceptions where they have performance bonuses, incentives, variable pay, or other allowances that are not considered in the CTC calculation by some organizations.

Regards

Thank you for your response. We have already requested these documents, which he has not produced. Would it be unethical if we tried to verify the details from another employee of the candidate's organization, without disclosing the employment details (just a simulated call from a KPO-like entity)? Can HR employ such tactics to verify a candidate?

Regards, Yogita

If you feel ethical, then you should recruit a person from another organization. (Just for a joke) It is not unethical since you are getting genuine resources for your organization. Moreover, you can ask for the reference number or name from the person themselves, i.e., their manager or CEO. You can call them directly after offering the position or if they join. At least ask them to provide their Form 16 or IT returns if they have not given you the correct salary certificate.

Thank you.

Hi Anil, thanks a lot for your response. I have visited the links, but my problem is a senior candidate who is not able to show the salary proofs. Only the salary certificate is provided (as the candidate is very senior), and moreover, he has been working with the current organization for the last 10 years. How can we check the genuineness of the case?

Regards,
Yogita

Salary Certificate as Proof

A salary certificate is proof, and I hope you have it duly stamped by his employer or on the letterhead of the company. You can check the authenticity if you want by corresponding with his past employer. But as you said that he is a very senior person, I don't think he will provide any fake documents to you. I won't say that seniors can't do the same, but very few people do that.

Also, the employer has no authority to ask an employee to serve his/her bank statement or any kind of documents.

A practice followed by most companies is to conduct a reference check after the person joins. The appointment letter should specifically mention that the appointment is subject to a reference check.

You mentioned that he is not able to produce proof of salary. What does that mean? Are you referring to the salary slip, or is it not reflecting in the bank statement? Keep in mind that a senior employee may have access to the letterhead and stamp and could create a salary certificate on their own (you can't verify the authenticity of the signature). In such a scenario, you have the right to request him to show his salary credit in the bank.

Hi Saswata Banerjee, thanks for your response. I totally agree with your point. Remember that a senior will have access to the letterhead and stamp and can make a salary certificate on their own and give it (you can't verify the authenticity of the signature). This is why we asked for the bank statements.

Thanks, Yogita

It is obvious, Yogita, he is a senior one, and this can make anyone feel bad. That was not required, and the reaction by him was expected.

Interesting. He obviously has a big ego 

Steps to Handle Background Verification

The only way forward is to inform him that a formal background verification will take place after he joins. Let this be done by an external agency. If the information turns out to be false, you must immediately terminate his employment with you.

Regards