Spring and Summer Hiring is Coming: Five Things to Think About.

March is a month where Cutting Edge Background starts to see a lot of seasonal hiring. Particularly Rec areas that hire young people to work the snack bar, lifeguard at the pool, work the grounds. It’s a busy season.

Here are five things to be aware of when screening those younger, warm weather seasonal employees:

1. Just because a candidate is young does not mean they cannot have a serious criminal record. Screen them as you would any other candidate and apply consistent review standards.

2. If you screen candidates under the age of 18, besure you are getting appropriate authorizations. If your candidate hasn’t reached the age of majority, you may need a parent or guardian to complete the authorization on their behalf.

3. Most criminal records for candidates under the age of 18 are sealed—unless they were tried as an adult. It happens.

4. They may not have relevant work history—or any work history. References could be a key indicator in these situations and should be considered.

5. Education will probably be minimal, course. High school diplomas are easily verified in March and April. But once summer hits and many schools close for extended periods verifying those diplomas can easily take weeks while we wait for the registrars to return to their desks.

Hiring young applicants comes with both responsibility and opportunity. A background check is about making informed, fair decisions. Employers need to protect their workplace and also create space for young people to move forward. Thoughtful screening practices today can help build a stronger, more responsible workforce tomorrow.

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