More than ever, branding has become incredibly important to companies. Organizations want to put their best foot forward to jobseekers in hopes to attract new talent, build a loyal workforce, and project themselves in a positive light to the public.

We all know that hiring the wrong people can negatively affect the productivity of your company – but what about your brand? Hiring a candidate that does not embrace your company’s values or does not mesh well with your organization’s existing culture can also have unwanted effects on your company’s dynamics or reputation.

For instance, as noted by Bob Corlett on HRExaminer, a well-connected candidate can dissuade others from applying to your company because of an inadequate hiring process or a successful employer can be negatively affected by a poor review on Glassdoor from a former employee.

Background screening applicants is an effective way to protect the brand you have worked so hard to promote – after all, each employee you have essentially acts as a brand ambassador for your company. Besides the ability to determine if a candidate has committed any fraud or dishonesty, performing simple background and reference checks can assist you in determining whether or not a potential hire is a good fit for your company’s culture. In short, complete background checks on your candidates to avoid negligent hiring that could ultimately taint your brand.