Hiring a new employee always carries some risk, especially if a candidate’s background isn’t what it appears to be. Our pre employment checks help you confirm skills, verify work rights, and reduce the chance of costly hiring mistakes. RecruitNZ offers a comprehensive range of screening options to suit every role.
Pre employment screening is a simple, cost-effective way to protect your business before making an offer.
Employment background checks are especially important for roles involving financial responsibility, access to sensitive systems, or working with children, elderly people, or other vulnerable groups. The right pre employment checks help ensure you’re hiring safely and responsibly.
Types of pre employment checks available from RecruitNZ
Below are the different types of pre employment checks we provide. Not sure which checks you need? Our team can recommend the right combination based on the role and level of risk.
ACC check
Identifies repeat ACC claimants and helps you assess physical fitness for demanding roles such as construction, manufacturing, or warehousing.
Computer packages
Evaluate candidates’ proficiencies in Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint, in addition to typing skills and data entry accuracy.
Credit and debt check
It is prudent to run a credit and debt check for roles that require trust and financial responsibilities. It will provide details on a candidate’s credit and debt situation.
Criminal record check
Essential for roles involving trust, home visits, or working with vulnerable people. Criminal record checks can be completed for NZ, Australia, and most overseas countries.
Drug and alcohol testing
Recommended for safety-sensitive roles including driving, machinery operation, construction, and warehouse environments.
Driver license check
This pre employment check is recommended if you are recruiting professional drivers, or supply employees with company vehicles.
Immigration check
Every employer must verify that candidates have legal work rights in New Zealand. Significant penalties apply for hiring someone without the correct visa. If you need support, our immigration partners at VisaAide can assist.
Learning style inventory
This assessment covers sales preference indicator, work attitude indicator, Jung type indicator, and ADAPT assessment.
Police vetting check
The police check for employment is appropriate when employees work with vulnerable members of society, such as children, the aged, or disabled people.
Psychometric assessments
RecruitNZ primarily uses Extended DISC® for psychometric assessments. Other personality and psychometric tests are available, depending on your needs.
Skills assessment
A wide range of aptitude tests are available for assessing candidates’ skills and competencies. Our international recruitment division can also organise pre employment testing in the Philippines.
Reference checks
Our reference checks are thorough, verbal, and conducted only with previous managers. This 30-minute conversation gives us insight into performance, behaviour, and any red flags.
Verification of qualifications check
Some individuals may commence a qualification but fail to finish it – or they may entirely falsify their credentials. To prevent the problems that may arise from hiring personnel who lack the skills they claim to possess, it is advisable to undertake a qualifications check.
“We have been working with Recruit NZ for over 4 years now.
The team is great to work with and we know that they will consistently find the right fit of candidates for our company.
I really appreciate the way they follow up after the new recruit has started to see that both the employer and employee are satisfied.
We also use their HR Consulting division which is invaluable both for us as business owners and the staff.”
Ben Heath | General Manager | Furtex Limited
Do you have questions about pre-employment checks?
Please contact us for advice and information, we’ll be glad to help you.