Innovation by HR promises to save
valuable time in hiring process

A new innovative hiring practice by ITD’s Human Resources Department will save valuable time in the background-checking step of the hiring process, and may help ITD secure top job candidates before they look elsewhere for employment.

The fingerprinting and background-check process was cumbersome and lengthy. Candidates would get fingerprints taken at the Idaho State Police (ISP) and bring the fingerprint cards back to ITD to then be mailed back to ISP for a background check.

Patti Romano, Project Coordinator with the department's ETS Project Management Office, worked with the state police to solidify this new process.

The solution is to now email the authorization letter to the candidate that includes instructions for ISP to retain the card and process the background check. This eliminates the extra trip to ITD to drop off the card, and the mailing time.

Streamlining background checks will save at least two days, and up to five days. Those extra few days can be the critical difference between aITD getting their top candidate selection and the individual finding other employment during the wait.

“We have lost applicants in the past due to the length of time it takes for the background check,” HR's Jenna Pettek explained.

“This is very beneficial for recruitment purposes because we can have a confirmation of employment to the applicant that much sooner. And now applicants don’t have to drive back to ITD to deliver the fingerprint card, which will save them time, gas, and hassle.”

Background checks are usually one of the final steps in the hiring process. With at least 48 hours of savings per candidate for an entire year, that could easily amount to 4,800 hours and dozens of top candidates successfully added to the ITD family.

Published 02-07-20