Answer to Question 1
Answer: LinkedIn is very useful for companies in their recruitment efforts. In fact, the largest and fastest-growing part of LinkedIn's business is hiring solutions, which include a variety of services for in-house and external recruiters. These services include online job postings and ways to organize job searches. A major benefit is the ability to quickly identify and contact passive candidates, those who seem to have the necessary background, education, and skills but are not actively seeking work. Since companies value passive candidates for more senior positions, LinkedIn has become an even more valuable source for hiring to fill these positions.
More and more companies are looking to cut costs and are shifting recruiting money to LinkedIn. Filling senior positions once meant paying executive search firms thousands of dollars for each job. But with social networks like LinkedIn, in-house recruiters now have another way to reach such talent.
Answer to Question 2
Answer: Background investigation is more important than ever due to the rise in negligent hiring lawsuits, recent corporate scandals, and national security concerns. At this stage of the selection process, the candidate looks qualified on the surface. It is now time to determine the accuracy of the information submitted or to determine whether vital information was not submitted.
Background investigations involve obtaining data from various sources, including previous employers, business associates, credit bureaus, government agencies, and academic institutions. For example, criminal background investigations are used to ensure a safe work environment, to reduce legal liability for negligent hiring, and to eliminate or reduce criminal activity in the workplace. In addition, credit checks are used to reduce theft and measure an applicant's financial responsibility. The intensity of background investigations depends on the nature of the open position's tasks and its relationship to customers or clients. To be legally safe, employers should ask applicants to sign a liability waiver permitting a background investigation.