About the client

A reputed IT company in Pune with over 2000 employees working from every corner of the globe. The client strongly advocates a collaborative culture of trust and mutual respect.

Service Offered: Digital Footprint Check

Overview

The client was on a hiring spree for junior positions. In addition to that, the client was also searching for a management position candidate who could take on the job of creating a new business and further the legacy of the company. Since this position was critically important, the client perused hundreds of profiles and conducted dozens of interviews to find three suitable candidates. They put two candidates on hold and offered the one who seemed the best fit for the position.

At the client company, they always conduct generic pre-employment checks for any candidate they are considering. The selected candidate’s report came back with no discrepancies and no red flags. He joined on the agreed date and completed all the joining formalities without any issue.

Problem

The candidate did not show up for work on the second day. There was no communication from the candidate until the afternoon. HR contacted the candidate only to learn that his child was seriously ill and was hospitalized. He asked for a week’s extension, which was immediately granted as the company believed in its people and family emergencies always took priority in such matters.

The candidate approached HR after a week and asked for a further extension. The other two candidates were already employed by different companies by that time. The project was suffering due to the lack of a leader, and other initiatives didn’t take off too. When the candidate called in again the following week to request an extension, HR became suspicious. HR contacted V Trace and requested assistance – We suggested a thorough Digital Footprint Check.

Solution

When we ran various Social Media checks for digital footprint, the social media check through our Open Source Intelligence tools, we picked up some unexpected activity. We found the photos and videos of the candidate during the period of absence telling a story not corroborating with the one told to HR. The candidate and his family along with the alleged seriously ill child were seen vacationing and attending social functions and gatherings.

When the candidate reported back to the office, he was confronted by HR. The candidate has broken the trust and clearly was not worthy to be part of the culture that defines the client organization. The resignation was sought and got.

Benefit

A generic background check for a critical position cost company two deserving candidates, seven months of delay in refilling the position, and late kick-off of some strategic initiatives.

Our Digital Footprint checks offered HR evidence to confront the candidate and save the culture from
being polluted.