Sales jobs 'can only be screened with applicant's consent'

While applicants for positions such as insurance sales jobs may be screened as part of the recruitment process, it can only be done with their permission, an expert asserts.

Director for pre-employment screening company Powerchex Alexandra Kelly claims the regulations around this type of check are heavily controlled so as to prevent abuse by businesses.

In a recent survey by the company, 26 per cent of UK jobseekers admitted to having a "major embellishment" on their applications.

Ten per cent of all CVs have a serious discrepancy of employment dates, the research shows.

Ms Kelly says, when it comes to applicant screening, "nothing is done secretly".

"The applicant signs a form saying they are happy for employers to make these checks," she explains.

She states information in the public domain can be accessed legally, but deeper screening is "quite tightly regulated".

According to Enterprise Screening, client checks have been used frequently in the financial and legal sectors but is increasingly deployed by large organisations seeking to reduce the risk of fraud.

With consultants dedicated to Insurance Sales, Aaron Wallis have relationships with many of the major Insurance employers and recruit Insurance Brokers, Risk Managers and corporate sales professionals. For Insurance Sales Recruitment services visit: www.aaronwallis.co.uk.

Filed: 07-10-2008