Beyond the NBI: Comprehensive Verification Services for Manila's Job Market

Manila is the economic engine of the Philippines, a city that thrives on innovation, service excellence, and a robust workforce. While the NBI Clearance is an indispensable first step in vetting candidates, relying on it alone leaves businesses exposed to significant risks. In a competitive and diverse job market like Manila's, a truly comprehensive background check is essential for building a reliable, skilled, and trustworthy team.

For businesses across sectors like Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), Information Technology (IT), and Finance, the stakes are particularly high. These industries often handle sensitive data, require specific skill sets, and operate under stringent client mandates. A failure to verify beyond the basic NBI check can lead to hiring unqualified individuals, data breaches, and severe reputational damage.

This article explores why a multi-faceted approach to verification is non-negotiable for businesses operating in Manila.

The NBI Clearance: A Starting Point, Not the Finish Line

The NBI Clearance confirms an individual has no derogatory criminal record on file with the Bureau. It's a vital check, but it does not:

• Verify Educational Qualifications: Did the candidate actually earn that degree or diploma?
• Confirm Employment History: Did they really work where and when they claim? Were they dismissed for cause?
• Validate Professional Licenses: For specialized roles, are their certifications current and legitimate?
• Detect Resume Fraud: Does the candidate have a history of misrepresenting their skills or experience?

In Manila's competitive industries, these unverified claims can translate into real business risks.

Key Verification Pillars for Manila's Diverse Industries

To build a truly resilient and competent workforce, employers must extend their verification efforts to several critical areas:

1. Educational Credential Verification

• Why it Matters: For roles in IT, finance, engineering, and many specialized BPO functions, educational qualifications are foundational. Diploma mills and falsified transcripts are a real threat.
• What to Verify: Degrees, diplomas, certificates, and any other academic achievements claimed by the candidate.
• How to Verify: Directly contact the registrar's office of the issuing educational institution in the Philippines to confirm the authenticity of the degree, major, dates of attendance, and graduation status.

2. Employment History Verification

• Why it Matters: A candidate's past performance, reasons for leaving, and job responsibilities are strong indicators of future behaviour and competence. Resume inflation is common.
• What to Verify: Dates of employment, job titles held, primary duties, reason for separation, and eligibility for rehire.
• How to Verify: Contact the HR departments or, where HR is not available, direct supervisors from previous employers. This confirms the accuracy of the candidate's work history and can uncover any red flags from past employment.

3. Professional License Verification

• Why it Matters: Many regulated professions in the Philippines (e.g., accounting, nursing, engineering, law, certain IT certifications) require active, valid licenses. Hiring someone with an expired or fraudulent license can lead to legal issues and service failures.
• What to Verify: The validity, status, and any disciplinary actions against professional licenses issued by Philippine regulatory bodies (like the Professional Regulation Commission - PRC, or specific industry boards).
• How to Verify: Direct verification with the issuing professional regulatory body or accredited third-party services that have access to these databases.

4. Professional Reference Checks

• Why it Matters: While not always legally mandated, speaking with professional references (supervisors, colleagues) can provide invaluable insights into a candidate's work ethic, soft skills, and team fit.
• What to Verify: Soft skills, performance quality, teamwork, and general professional conduct.
• How to Verify: Conduct structured interviews with references provided by the candidate, ensuring they are from appropriate professional contexts.

The Industry-Specific Importance in Manila

• For BPOs: Client trust is paramount. Verifying that agents have the stated educational backgrounds and honest employment histories is crucial for client satisfaction and data security compliance.
• For IT Companies: Verifying technical certifications, degrees in computer science or engineering, and past project experience is essential to ensure candidates possess the required technical acumen.
• For Financial Services: Verifying qualifications for accounting, finance, and compliance roles, along with rigorous identity and criminal checks, is non-negotiable to prevent fraud and ensure regulatory adherence.

Ensuring Compliance and Efficiency

Implementing these verification steps requires diligence and adherence to the Data Privacy Act (RA 10173). You must obtain explicit consent from candidates for each type of check.

Working with a professional background screening partner like Avvanz is the most effective way to manage this complexity. We have the local expertise, established networks, and secure technology to conduct these comprehensive verifications accurately and efficiently, while ensuring full legal compliance.

Don't Compromise on Trust and Quality

In Manila's competitive business landscape, building a team of trusted, qualified professionals is your most significant advantage. Go beyond the NBI clearance. Implement comprehensive verification services to protect your business, uphold your clients' trust, and secure your organisation's future.

Ready to build a more secure and competent team? Contact Avvanz today to discuss comprehensive verification solutions tailored for the Manila job market.