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Match the services offered by background investigation firms to your business needs

Identify risks such as your chances of hiring illegal immigrants, the depth of screening for specific positions related to financial records, confidential information and the like to determine the types of services your business requires and how to protect your company during the hiring process.

I recommend: Learn how to outsource employee background checks on SecurityInfoWatch.com. Develop a plan and research background investigation companies before hiring a particular firm. Alpha Background Investigations (ABI) offers three different packages that include different service options such as social security verification, credit history reports, criminal records searches, employment verification and more. Choose a package designed for entry level or limited access positions, mid-level supervisory, high-level management or customize one that meets the particular needs of your company.

Utilize corporate private investigators to check on business partners and the marketplace

Corporate investigations are directed at business operations. Contact corporate private investigators to protect your business from a law suit or to learn more about your competition. These services investigate business partners, brands, the marketplace and more to help your business succeed.

I recommend: PInow.com provides a question and answer section on corporate investigation and how you can use these services to protect and profit your business. Visit the website to learn more about corporate private investigation services and to find a pre-screened and professional corporate investigator in your area. ACE does it all from embezzlement investigations to pre-employment screening. Get a free confidential consultation.

Contact private investigation firms for broader investigative work

Private investigator firms cover a wide range of services that include skip tracing, pre-marital checks, identifying hidden assets, criminal background checks, undercover work in a corporate environment, serving subpoenas and more. Attorneys often find the services of private investigation agencies useful in their line of work.

I recommend: ExpertLaw.com offers tips on how to hire a private investigator. Learn how to conduct a search, evaluate qualifications, determine the nature of the employment relationship and compensation for services rendered. Ascertain Screening and Investigations provides drug screening, criminal records research, employment history and education credentials verification, consumer credit history, fingerprinting, international searches and more. Choose a service or create a custom package to meet your business requirements.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Ask companies that offer corporate private investigation services which steps are taken to ensure operations stay within federal and state guidelines to guard against potential lawsuits.

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Choose thorough background investigation companies

Stick with a company that will review your candidate from the top to bottom of his or her work and past history.

I recommend: EBI offers background checks and employment screening services, so that you can reduce your chance of hiring inappropriate employees. They offer many services including: social security verification & social security trace, credit reports, driving record checks, verifying past employment, verifying education licenses and professional credentials, they can check references, verify military records, check out workers' comp claims, and it features a sex offenders registry check as well. Intelligent Investigations offers you personal information, criminal records, assets and licenses. Let Kerby, Bailey and Associates help you with your pre-employment background check.

Use corporate investigation as a criminal check

Utilize private investigation companies to run a criminal check on a potential new hire.

I recommend: Companies like US Search offer many levels of corporate investigation including a criminal check. IntegraScan can offer you a free preliminary search, and criminal background checks for a reasonable cost.

Choose licensed and bonded corporate private investigation services

Make sure that your private investigation agencies are licensed in the state that you are in, and bonding is almost always a requirement to receive that licensing.

I recommend: Chicago Process Server Detective Agency can process individual information nationwide. Cook Investigation Service is one of the fully licensed and bonded private investigator firms. So are the folks at Active Investigations. They offer surveillance, records checking, interviews, statement gathering, as well as video and photographic evidence.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  You are going to get what you pay for when it comes to private investigation firms. If you have a complicated issue, only use the best for superior results.
• •  Look for a company that offers their services on a flat fee, as opposed to hourly. You also want to make sure that you have the terms of your agreement spelled out before your investigation begins. State your intended results as well as the time frame during which the research will be done.

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Learn about industry specifics for private investigation companies

By learning about industry specifics, a would-be private investigator can know approximately how long it will take to become established in the field of corporate investigation, what is expected, and how to specialize a career in this eclectic field.

I recommend: The Bureau of Labor and Statistics offers information such as the nature of the work of a private detective and options available to such individuals. These options may include specialization as a corporate investigator, the job outlook, potential earnings, and related occupations. It also offers significant factors into the line of a private detective or investigator, including the fact that the work hours are often irregular and approximately 30 percent of these workers are self-employed. CareerOverview.com discusses the private detective industry at large, including areas of specialization such as private investigative firms which specialize in corporate investigations, historical earnings and tips about what individuals would come to expect from working in such a field.

Pursue a college degree or training program before joining private investigation firm

Working in corporate investigations does not always require a college degree, but such an education can help when looking to get hired at private investigation firms. For individuals who are more interested in working at background investigation companies, it may be more cost effective to invest in a training program rather than a college degree. There are no strict educational requirements for corporate investigators; however, many can benefit from a college degree. When applicants do not have an applicable college degree, private business investigation firms and private investigation companies will look for relevant work experience, such as a training program completed by the individual. Whether a person has an established career as a corporate investigator or they are looking to supplement their new knowledge, training and certification programs can offer additional knowledge and credibility.

I recommend: Utica College offers an online Economic Crime degree which supplements the professional education of individuals hoping to be hired by private investigative companies to help stop white collar crime. It is the only program of its kind in the country. Sometimes corporate investigative companies will provide training for their employees and Gumshoes.com discusses some of their mandatory training programs and benefits of such. DTI Data offers a certification in data forensics, which is beneficial for corporate investigations since so much work is done on the computer. In fact, the site estimates that 85 percent of the crimes which are committed today contain a digital signature which can help identify the perpetrator.

Educate yourself with respect to licensing for corporate private investigation services

Private investigation licenses are not required in all states; however, they are beneficial to have. Many states will exempt corporate investigators from having licenses if they are performing internal investigations, but having a license is often beneficial for other services, including background investigation companies.

I recommend: EInvestigator.com offers a state-by-state listing of relevant contact information for private investigative licenses. For states which do not require a license specifically for performing private investigation work, they may require a business license. CrimeTime.com discusses each individual state and their requirements for working as a private investigator.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Sometimes, having a background in another field can help individuals break into the industry of corporate investigation. This is helpful if a person is looking to change their career or get a change of scenery. Some popular fields for this type of cross over may include individuals on the police force, business professionals, government intelligence specialists and, in some cases, personal bodyguards.

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Applicant tracking system

An applicant tracking system is a type of software that allows for electronic processing of various elements of an organization's recruitment of employees. Most large organizations utilize an ATS to handle job applications and resumes. Some corporate private investigation services usually can interface with an ATS.

I recommend: TechTarget provides a definition of this term.

Background check

A background check is used by corporate private investigation services to determine whether or not an applicant is suitable for a specific job. It includes a check of the candidate's criminal record, and in some cases, their financial records.

I recommend: See EmployeeIsues.com for another definition.

Pre-employment screening

Pre-employment screening is another service offered by most corporate private investigation services. During this process the candidate's past employment is verified in addition to credit and criminal history

I recommend: Lexis Nexis Risk & Information Analytics Group provides more information on pre-employment screening.

Credit history

A credit history or credit report is a review of an individual's past borrowing and repayment history. It usually includes information on late payments or previous bankruptcy. Corporate private investigation services can provide information on a candidate or current employee's credit history if requested to do so.

I recommend: InvestorWords.com provides another definition.

Drug test

A drug test is a technical examination of blood, hair, urine, sweat or oral fluids for the purpose of determining the absence or presence of drugs. Most corporate private investigation services can provide drug testing services.

I recommend: Go to MedicineNet for more information.

Accession number

An accession number is a number that is assigned during a drug testing process that stays with the specimen as it is tracked through every step from arrival of the specimen to the report of the results. Corporate private investigation services that do drug testing will assign accession numbers to samples to guarantee that the chain of custody can be verified if there is any dispute about the outcome of the drug test.

I recommend: Employment Background Investigations explains this term.