Advice 2 Talent

Welcome to Advice 2 Talent

Going Beyond the NBI Clearance: Why Character References Are Essential in Hiring Virtual Assistants

When it comes to hiring virtual assistants, ensuring that your candidates are trustworthy and reliable is crucial. While an NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) clearance is a valuable part of the background check process, it’s not the only step we take to protect our clients and their businesses. At Advice2Talent, we go beyond just the NBI clearance by thoroughly checking at least 2-3 character references for each candidate we consider.

What Is the NBI Clearance and Why Is It Important?

The NBI clearance is a widely recognized background check in the Philippines. It serves as a certification that the individual has no criminal record, making it a trusted safeguard for employers. It’s common practice for employers to ask for this document as part of the pre-employment check list.

While this clearance is important, it only provides a snapshot of someone’s legal history. It doesn’t tell you about the candidate’s reliability, work ethic, or how they handle responsibilities in a professional setting.

The Value of Character References

To build a more complete picture of a candidate’s suitability, we have a character reference check process for our candidates. We believe that speaking with past employers, colleagues, or mentors offers a deeper understanding of the candidate’s strengths, behavior, and interpersonal skills.

Here are some of the key reasons why character references are so valuable:

Insight into Professional Behavior: References can provide information on how the candidate performs under pressure, their punctuality, problem-solving abilities, and overall demeanor at work.

Validation of Experience: Character references help verify the accuracy of a candidate’s résumé. We cross-check job titles, roles, and durations of employment to ensure that we have a true representation of their professional history.

Work Ethic and Attitude: A candidate’s attitude towards work is just as important as their technical skills. References can give us an idea of the individual’s dedication, teamwork, and whether they go above and beyond in their role.

Cultural Fit: Since our goal is to provide virtual assistants who will integrate seamlessly into your business, understanding their past interactions with colleagues and supervisors helps us assess how well they will fit into your company culture.

A combination of an NBI clearance and thorough character reference checks provides the most reliable assessment of a candidate’s suitability. While the NBI clearance covers the legal aspect, character references shed light on their personal and professional qualities.
Our process ensures that by the time a candidate reaches your desk, they’ve already been vetted for both criminal history and character credibility. This dual-layered approach minimizes risks and maximizes your confidence in the team you’re building.

Why This Matters for Your Business

Hiring the right virtual assistant goes beyond skills—it’s about trust, reliability, and fit. By going through these extra steps, we not only safeguard your business but also set up your new team member for success. This commitment to a thorough screening process is one of the many ways we uphold our promise to deliver exceptional talent to our clients.

Let’s Connect

If you’re looking for virtual assistants who have been rigorously vetted through NBI clearances and multiple character reference checks, Advice2Talent is here to help. Contact us to learn more about how we can support your business with top-quality talent you can trust.