5 Pre-employment Screening Mistakes That Cost You Time, Talent and Trust

From prolonged clearance delays to missed hires and poor candidate communication, many organisations don’t realise just how much is going wrong behind the scenes. And when screening is treated as a tick-box admin task or left to automated black-box systems, it’s not just candidates who lose confidence - it’s your projects, your timelines, and your brand. We sat down with Jayne Lee, Head of Candidate Services at Rullion, to uncover the five most common screening mistakes she sees every week. Plus, what a better, faster, human-led approach really looks like. Why Screening Is More Than a Tick-Box Exercise Too many employers treat pre-employment screening as a box-ticking chore, something to be automated, outsourced on the cheap, or buried within already-stretched HR functions. But the stakes are far higher than most realise. "Candidates are left hanging for 40 days, sometimes six months. Clients can’t get people on-site. Everyone’s frustrated, and nobody wins." — Jayne Lee Screening is not just about compliance. It’s about trust, operational readiness, and safeguarding your organisation’s brand. When mishandled, it can stall entire projects, drive away top talent, and leave teams critically understaffed. What Happens When Screening Goes Wrong In Jayne’s world, horror stories abound: candidates ghosted by automated systems, clients left to chase their own references, and six-month clearance times that sabotage even the best-laid hiring plans. From a compliance perspective, that’s risky enough. But the real cost comes in the form of: Delays to mobilisation and project timelines Lost candidates, who accept faster offers elsewhere Frustrated hiring managers, stuck in limbo Reputational damage, as candidate experience deteriorates Jayne describes a common tale: a company chooses a low-cost provider based purely on price. Within a year, they get burned by red-amber-green status updates and incomplete checks, but still charged full fees. It’s a classic example of how lower-cost options can lead to higher costs over time. What seems cheaper upfront often results in greater expense later. — Jayne Lee Top 5 Screening Mistakes to Avoid Choosing a provider based purely on price Relying on automated systems with no human oversight Treating screening as an afterthought in the hiring process Failing to update candidates during delays Underestimating the reputational cost of poor candidate experience The Four Pillars of a Good Screening Process So what does good look like? According to Jayne, the best pre-employment screening services share four key traits: 1. Speed Rullion averages just 7–8 days for full clearances. That’s no accident. It’s the result of a dedicated team, proactive communication, and structured workflows. 2. Accuracy Accuracy isn’t negotiable. Cutting corners increases risk and invites compliance breaches. 3. Candidate Experience Each candidate is assigned an advisor who guides them through the process, no faceless systems or ticket queues. This human-led approach builds trust and keeps things moving. 4. Compliance Especially in safety-sensitive sectors, clearances like BPSS must be handled to exacting standards. "Our advisors don’t just send emails - they know who to call, when to push, and how to escalate." — Jayne Lee Trends and Challenges in Screening Today Screening is evolving, and fast. Jayne highlights three major shifts: Growing regulation: in sectors like nuclear, utilities, and transport Automation that helps: but can’t replace - human expertise Rising candidate expectations: for fast, clear communication Many organisations are entering regulated sectors for the first time, unaware of what secure screening services really involve. Others rely on overburdened HR teams, hoping for the best. "Screening is often a homeless task. Nobody owns it, and it bounces from admin to HR until something breaks." — Jayne Lee How to Choose the Right Screening Partner If you’re in a high-stakes environment, the right screening partner isn’t a nice-to-have, it’s essential. Here’s what to look for: Specialist knowledge: of your sector and its compliance demands Technology that supports: not replaces, human interaction Transparent processes: clear SLAs, and real-time tracking Full ownership: so you’re never left to finish an incomplete check And most importantly, speed and service shouldn’t be trade-offs. Jayne’s team delivers both. "When I speak to ops teams, they get it immediately - they’re living the nightmare. Procurement? Not always." — Jayne Lee Screening Is a Strategic Advantage Screening isn’t a formality. It’s the critical bridge between offer and start date. It’s one that protects your operations, ensures compliance, and strengthens your brand. As Jayne says, when done right, pre-employment screening isn't just faster and safer, it’s smarter. So if you're still stuck in the red-amber-green trap, it might be time to rethink your approach.

Employment Screening Solutions with Rullion: Faster, Safer, Smarter Hiring

Checks That Cover More Than Just The Basics We conduct over 10,000 background checks annually, helping our clients reduce time-to-hire by up to 50% and cut administrative workload by 45%. We provide a comprehensive suite of pre-employment screening services across sectors, including Utilities, Nuclear, Energy and Rail. Our flexible solution adapts to the evolving demands of the recruitment landscape, ensuring efficiency, accuracy, and consistency across 200+ countries and regions worldwide. “We cater to the specific needs of our clients. There’s no ‘one-size-fits-all’ here. What sets Rullion apart is our adaptability. We understand that the hiring landscape is ever-changing and that each industry comes with its unique challenges, and we’re ready for all of them!” What do employment background checks include? A reliable background screening provider should deliver a wide range of checks that are not only thorough but also aligned with industry-specific standards. Our background checks include: Checks on Identity and Right-to-Work Checking a candidate's identity and making sure they have the legal right to work in the country in question. BPSS Clearance The UK government requires those who work in sensitive positions to go through a Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) screening before they start working. It includes checking your identity, criminal records, employment history, nationality, and right to work. At Rullion, the average clearance time for BPSS is 7.5 days, compared to the industry average of 30 to 40 days. Employment and Education Verification Confirming a candidate’s previous job roles, dates of employment, and qualifications. Criminal Record Checks (DBS/International) Assessing a candidate’s criminal history through official national or international databases. Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks are standard in the UK, with equivalent checks conducted for international hires. Credit, Sanctions & Directorship Checks Checking a candidate's financial history, such as their credit score and any punishments or disqualifications they may have received as a corporate director. Social Media Screening Looking into social media activity that is open to the public to find any reputational or behavioural concerns that could affect your company's values or culture. Health Assessments Checking to see if an applicant is physically and mentally fit for the job. These tests ensure a candidate can do their job safely and to a high standard. Safeguard Your Business with Background Screening An effective background screening solution plays a critical role in protecting your organisation from risk, whether legal, reputational, operational, or financial. By helping to prevent fraud, mitigate insider risk, and ensure regulatory compliance, employment background checks become more than just a hiring step; they become a strategic safeguard for your business. At Rullion, our robust methodology in background screening ensures full adherence to compliance and safeguarding standards, giving you the confidence to hire with certainty. Jayne explains, “Protecting our clients, keeping them informed and ahead of the curve, is a responsibility we never take lightly. It’s not just about ticking boxes; it’s about being globally compliant and locally relevant.” We continuously monitor changes in legislation, regulatory requirements, and industry trends, keeping you informed at every step. Our advanced, cloud-based platform is built with security at its core and is fully certified to ISO 9001 (Quality Management), ISO 27001 (Information Security), and Cyber Essentials. Employment Background Checks That Support a Seamless Candidate Journey “When we talk about ‘high-touch,’ it’s about creating genuine connections,” Jayne often tells her team. We believe the candidate experience during screening is just as important as every other step in the recruitment journey. That’s why every single candidate has their own dedicated advisor who offers unwavering support throughout the candidate verification journey. “Every interaction, every touchpoint, should feel seamless for the candidates, hiring managers, and everyone involved.” But why does this matter? Background screening is often the first in-depth interaction a candidate has with your organisation beyond the interview. A confusing or impersonal process can lead to frustration, delayed starts, or even candidate dropouts, particularly among in-demand talent. By contrast, a smooth and supportive experience strengthens your employer brand, builds trust, and reassures your candidates that they've made the right choice. Streamlined and Secure Employment Screening Platform Our easy-to-use platform enables candidates to quickly and securely upload documents and personal information, minimising delays and administrative overhead. For us, user-friendly doesn’t just mean intuitive tech. “Making a process user-friendly is not just about technology. It’s about the people behind that technology, guiding you every step of the way”, Jayne explains. We take pride in our human-led approach, with real specialists always on hand to assist, clarify queries, and keep the process moving without stress. Beyond the experience, we also focus on speed and efficiency. “Time saved in the recruitment process is time added to productivity and innovation,” says Jayne. That’s why reducing time-to-hire is always a priority for us. The Rullion platform automates the entire end-to-end background screening process, from initial checks to final reporting. Some of the features included are: Custom workflows interactive dashboards Detailed MI and self-serve reporting Giving you the transparency, speed, and control, helping you hire faster, smarter, and more confidently. Custom Background Screening Solutions That Make a Real Impact Our expertise has been proven in high-volume, high-complexity projects, including major clients like EDF and Hinkley Point C. Our customer-centric approach was exemplified in our recent partnership with a leading UK utility firm, Jayne explains: “They were looking for more than a solution; they wanted a transformative experience. We’re proud to have delivered just that.” Frustrated with their existing provider due to lengthy turnaround times and compliance risks, the firm turned to us for comprehensive employment background checks. By replicating and adapting key elements of our screening process, we: Significantly reduced turnaround times from 40 days to While achieving impressive NPS scores (65+) for candidates undergoing the screening process. Recap: Why Choose Rullion for Employment Background Checks? Our commitment resonates with every workforce solution we provide, from our dedication to improving candidate experiences to streamlining your recruitment processes and safeguarding your business. Jayne says: “It’s about truly understanding what our clients need and going the extra mile to deliver it. I like to call it the Rullion advantage – where diligence meets excellence.” Here’s what that advantage looks like in action: 10,000+ checks annually 50% reduction in time-to-hire ISO-certified & Cyber Essentials secure Bespoke solutions across 200+ countries Seamless candidate experience Advanced, cloud-based platform Need help with your employment background checks? 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